The Cebu Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) has intensified surveillance and containment efforts following the confirmation of three African swine fever (ASF) cases in Ginatilan on September 18, prompting the local government to impose tighter restrictions on the movement of hogs and pork products.
Provincial Veterinarian Mary Rose Bahian Vincoy said the provincial government is still tracing the possible source of the virus, while containment measures are being implemented to limit the risk of transmission to other areas.
The confirmed cases were reported in barangay Cagsing and Calabawan.
An executive order issued by the mayor banned the movement of live swine to and from the two villages without prior clearance from the Municipal Agriculture Office and the Provincial Veterinary Office.
The slaughter or butchering of pigs in Cagsing and Calabawan has, likewise, been suspended until further notice.
The order also established internal checkpoints at all entry and exit points of Cagsing and Calabawan. Border checkpoints were designated in barangays Looc, Palanas, Mangaco and Salamanca.
Land and highway controls will be led by the National Police, with support from barangay officials, the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. The Coast Guard’s Ginatilan station was tasked with helping prevent unauthorized entry through coastal and shoreline areas.
The order also bars the entry into Ginatilan of live pigs, pork and other swine products originating from Negros Oriental, identified in the directive as a high-risk area.
The municipality has further prohibited livestock transport trucks or carriers from entering its barangays to load, unload, buy or sell livestock.
Vehicles merely passing through the national road between Looc and Palanas may continue to travel through Ginatilan provided they do not stop or engage in livestock-related transactions.
Violating vehicles or cargo may be turned back and subjected to inspection, quarantine or disposal upon direction of the veterinary authorities.
The executive order also temporarily suspended livestock trading throughout Ginatilan, including transactions normally conducted during market days on Tuesdays and Fridays. The suspension will remain in effect until lifted by the Municipal Agriculture Office with the concurrence of the Provincial Veterinary Office.
Field animal services have also been put on hold. The deployment of animal technicians and artificial-insemination personnel to farms and swine holdings was suspended to reduce the possibility of transmitting the virus through personnel, equipment and other materials.
Province-wide surveillance
THE measures imposed at Ginatilan came as the PVO expanded ASF surveillance across Cebu.
The office has collected around 2,101 blood samples from backyard and commercial hog farms in 25 localities, with laboratory results from 19 LGUs so far showing no ASF detection. The LGUs with negative results are Bantayan, San Francisco, Poro, San Fernando, Santa Fe, Tuburan, Cordova, Tudela, Carcar City, Pilar, Madridejos, Bogo City, Sibonga, Mandaue City, Liloan, Minglanilla, Talisay City, Sogod and Tabogon.
Results remain pending from San Remigio, Tabuelan, a second round of testing in Cordova, Pinamungajan, Borbon and Balamban.
Vincoy said the PVO has also stepped up farm-level biosecurity, disinfection activities and disease investigations, including traceback and trace-forward operations aimed at determining potential sources of infection and identifying locations that may have been exposed.
The provincial government is coordinating with the Department of Agriculture and affected local governments, while monitoring areas surrounding Ginatilan and conducting information campaigns on ASF prevention and animal-movement restrictions.
Authorities are also preparing possible assistance for hog raisers who could be affected by the containment measures.
ASF is a viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs. While it does not infect people, outbreaks can cause substantial losses to hog raisers and disrupt the movement and sale of live pigs and pork products.
The Ginatilan executive order will remain in force until lifted by the municipal mayor upon the recommendation of the Provincial Veterinary Office and the Department of Agriculture.