Northern Samar acts vs ASF


TACLOBAN CITY – The provincial government of Northern Samar through the Provincial Agriculture and Veterinary Office is taking significant steps to prevent swine mortality from African Swine Fever in the province.

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Dr. Jose Luis Acompañado, the Provincial Veterinarian and officer-in-charge of the Provincial Agriculture Office, bared that no cases have been recorded but the threat of ASF remains and that the province has to protect its swine industry. 

“While there is already a reported vaccine against ASF, we can’t be complacent until it becomes available for use, and must implement measures to prevent it from adversely affecting our swine growers,” he said.  

He recommended limiting the movement of live swine or pork meat in Northern Samar through checkpoints in municipalities. 

The checkpoints manned by local government units in cooperation with law enforcement agencies will ask a veterinary health certificate issued by the Municipal Agriculturist from the point of origin, transport or shipping permit, and the registration of the vehicle or swine carrier. 

Without these, the swine or pork will be asked to be returned to the origin, but if exhibiting sickness, will be confiscated and dealt with according to established rules.  

Municipal veterinarians proposed to localize the declaration of ASF cases.

Bureau of Animal Industry representative Dr. Rico Espiña said he would raise the recommendation to the Department of Agriculture.  DA is the authorized agency to declare ASF outbreak after confirmatory tests of suspected cases. 

Based on the report of  municipal agriculture offices, some areas in the province experienced swine deaths after the flooding last November and December but these were not related to ASF.