Samar town imposes lockdown on pork meat to stop ASF spread
TACLOBAN CITY – A full lockdown on swine and pork meat has been enforced in Calbiga, Samar to prevent the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) following the positive results of blood samples taken from hogs in Barangay Calingonan, Calbiga.

THE town of Calbiga, Samar recorded a positive ASF case.
The Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) conducted tests on blood samples from two separate piggeries in Barangay Calingonan on May 29 due to ASF suspected as the cause of recent swine mortalities in the area.
The results revealed one positive case of ASF while the other sample tested negative.
Mayor Red Nacario issued an executive order outlining the necessary actions to address the ASF outbreak and its implications on food security in the municipality.
Juan Paulo Cabueños, chief of the Municipal Agriculture Office in Calbiga, emphasized the urgency of implementing a lockdown to contain the virus and prevent further spread among swine populations.
Precautionary measures such as animal quarantine have been in place prior to the confirmation of the ASF case.
Prior to the issuance of the official executive order, a zero movement policy has been enforced in Barangay Calingonan, restricting the transport of swine and pork meat.
Despite calls to avoid mass culling, the MAO is conducting extensive blood sampling of swine within the red zone, a one-kilometer radius from the initial outbreak site.
While culling healthy swine remains a possibility, the focus is on containing the infected areas and preventing further contamination, MAO added.
"Even during last week, with the results had yet to be known, animal quarantine in several areas within the red and yellow zones were already implemented," Cabueños said.
A new suspected case of ASF has been identified in an adjacent piggery, raising concerns about the virus' potential spread.
The ASF outbreak in Calbiga followed previous reports of infections in the neighboring town of San Sebastian. Investigations are ongoing to determine any link between the recent cases in Calbiga and those in nearby areas.