Palawan confirms ASF case, strengthens containment measures

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — The Palawan provincial government has confirmed its first case of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Barangay Concepcion, Agutaya, and rolled out strict containment protocols to block the virus from spreading further across the province. 

Laboratory tests by the Bureau of Animal Industry returned positive results for ASF in 40 samples collected from Concepcion. 

Authorities immediately set up quarantine checkpoints across Agutaya to regulate the movement of people, animals, and materials that may carry the virus. 

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READ: African swine fever on pigs confirmed in Agutaya, Palawan

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The Provincial ASF Task Force convened on September 25 to review the situation and approve intensified response measures, among them a three-day depopulation operation that ran from September 28 to 30 in the affected barangay. 

The operation targeted remaining swine in the area to stop the chain of infection. 

The Department of Agriculture in the region is helping the province respond to the ASF problem with disinfectants, rapid test kits, technical guidance, and standards on depopulation, a process for indemnification, movement control, biosecurity, and disease surveillance. 

READ: African swine fever hits 2 towns in Catanduanes

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Active surveillance is also underway to detect hidden cases in other parts of Agutaya, including field investigations, sample collection, and monitoring for unexplained sickness or deaths among pigs. 

The provincial government is recording losses of affected hog raisers and assessing their needs, alongside local officials and agencies to arrange appropriate assistance. 

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Information and education campaigns are being scaled up to teach raisers and residents about safeguards — limiting pig movements, disinfecting gear and footwear, and promptly reporting unusual deaths. 

Swine owners have been warned not to transport, sell, or slaughter animals showing ASF-like symptoms. 

The public is also told not to distribute meat from pigs that may be infected or dispose of carcasses without guidance from veterinary authorities. 

Officials clarified that ASF does not infect humans, but the virus can spread through contaminated pork, equipment, vehicles, footwear, and other materials. 

Residents are urged to cooperate fully with quarantine personnel when entering or leaving Agutaya. 

READ: Catanduanes bans entry of pigs, pork amid ASF threat

“Muli po, hinihikayat natin ang ating mga hog raiser na agad makipag-ugnayan sa kanilang Municipal Agriculture Office, Municipal o Provincial Veterinary Office, o Agricultural Extension Worker kapag nakapansin ng biglaang pagkakasakit o pagkamatay ng kanilang mga alagang baboy. Kailangan din nating muling higpitan ang biosecurity sa mga babuyan at sundin ang mga patakaran sa paggalaw ng mga baboy at produktong karne upang mapigilan ang pagkalat ng ASF,”  said DA-MIMAROPA Regional Executive Director Christopher R. Bañas in a statement on Friday.

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(Once again, we urge our hog raisers to contact their Municipal Agriculture Office, Municipal or Provincial Veterinary Office, or Agricultural Extension Worker immediately upon noticing sudden illness or death among their pigs. We also need to tighten biosecurity measures in pig farms and follow rules on the movement of pigs and meat products to stop the spread of ASF.)/coa