Negros Occidental mulls hog cholera outbreak declaration

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — A hog cholera outbreak may be declared in areas affected by the swine disease in Negros Occidental.

Dr. Ryan Janoya, provincial veterinarian office officer-in-charge, said data on hog fatalities and the affected barangays are being consolidated.

Reports as of Wednesday showed that 2,421 hogs died in 57 barangays in San Enrique, Valladolid, Pulupandan, Pontevedra, EB Magalona, Manapla and Hinigaran towns and the cities of La Carlota, Silay and Bago.

Up to 546 hog raisers were affected.

Laboratory examination of samples from hogs in San Enrique tested negative for African swine fever (ASF).

The Department of Agriculture-Western Visayas office had earlier confirmed that Negros Occidental remains free of ASF, noting that blood samples taken from hogs in the province tested negative for the virus.

Janoya said the veterinary office is waiting for test results of blood samples taken from hogs in this city and in Valladolid.

Provincial administrator Rayfrando Diaz said the Negros Occidental Incident Management Team would color code areas with hog deaths and set up quarantine zones to prevent the spread of the disease.

Diaz said areas where ongoing infections are severe would be tagged as red zones, yellow if there are ongoing infections and green if there is no recorded case.

Once a hog cholera outbreak is declared, concerned local government units may utilize their calamity funds to help affected hog raisers.