Cebu pig’s death not due to ASF – tests

CEBU, Philippines —  The hog that died in Carmen town, Cebu in what was initially suspected to be caused by the African swine fever (ASF) virus has tested negative for the virus in an examination made by the Department of Agriculture.

The FREEMAN secured a copy of the clinical laboratory report signed by veterinarians Jennifer Maravilla and Rachel Azul from the Veterinary Laboratory Division of the Bureau of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture. The report was also noted by the division chief, Rosemarie Antegro.

According to the report, the specimens tested negative of the ASF viral DNA.

Dr. Daniel Ventura, ASF focal person of DA-7, was earlier quoted in a report that the agency was investigating suspect case of ASF in Cebu.

He explained that they received report from an informant that a pig in their locality had died. The report came with a photo that saw the pig with what were suspected to be signs of the ASF.

According to the report, the owner immediately buried the dead pig.

Following that, seven whole blood and two serum samples from the hogs suspected to have contracted the virus were tested. The samples were taken last February 23.

The Freeman reached out to Dr. Rose Vincoy, Cebu provincial veterinarian, via phone call yesterday to get further comments but she was unable to return the calls as of this writing.

She was representing Governor Gwendolyn Garcia in an ASF meeting with local chief executives of the region regarding their total ban on pork.

The negative results of the recent examination of samples mean that Cebu remains ASF-free despite the spread of the highly contagious virus in northern provinces of Luzon and some provinces in the Davao region.

Last Monday, February 24, Governor Garcia convened the ASF Task Force on the implications of banning the entry of hog feeds from the infected areas. According to Garcia, the feeds can also be carriers of the virus.

Prior to the meeting, Garcia assured that the province has enough mills to produce the feeds and that their concern was the supply of corn for the feeds.

Cebu is implementing an indefinite ban on pork, pork-related products, frozen boar semen, live hogs and commingled meat from the entire island of Luzon and Region 11 or the Davao region due to confirmed cases there.

An indefinite pork ban has also been imposed on Region 8 or Eastern Visayas because its provinces have lifted their ban against pork from Luzon, making them possible passage ways of meat coming from the infected areas to Cebu.

Apart from these, a 90-day preventive ban of the same products and items from the entire island of Mindanao is also being implemented by the Capitol.  JMD (FREEMAN)