ASF detected in 3 Zambales villages

OLONGAPO CITY, Philippines — African swine fever (ASF) has been detected in three barangays in Candelaria, Zambales.

These are in Barangays Libertador, Panayonan and Taposo.

The municipal government ordered stricter implementation of biosecurity measures after blood samples from affected hogs tested positive for the virus.

Mayor Byron Jones Edquiling directed barangay officials to implement ASF prevention and biosecurity measures in consultation with the municipal agriculture office.

Edquiling stressed the need for stricter measures to prevent the spread of the swine disease.

He did not give details on the exact number of ASF-infected hogs in affected barangays.

Early this month, the Bureau of Animal Industry recorded ASF outbreaks in eight towns in Aklan and two towns each in Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental.

ASF outbreaks were also recently detected in Capiz, Cebu, Iloilo, Guimaras, Leyte, Northern Samar and Southern Leyte.