• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
African swine fever (ASF) has now affected 17 local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental, with authorities reporting that the spread of the disease is being managed more effectively than during previous outbreaks.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Tuesday, Aug. 4 the ASF-related hog mortalities have reached 2,338 out of a total hog population of 90,981 in affected areas, representing a mortality rate of 2.57 percent.
Despite the increase in the number of affected LGUs, Lacson noted that the disease is not spreading as rapidly as it did during the initial outbreak.
“It shows that it’s not spreading as fast as the first time we got hit. We are controlling or managing it much better because of the lessons that we learned before,” the governor said.
The total estimated cost of ASF-related hog mortalities has risen to P24.4 million.
Three additional LGUs have recently recorded ASF cases, bringing the total to 17. The newly affected areas are Isabela, La Castellana, and Binalbagan, all located in the southern part of Negros Occidental.
Lacson clarified that while ASF has been detected in 17 affected LGUs, not all hog mortalities are related to ASF.
He attributed the downward trend in hog deaths compared to the earlier stages of the outbreak to improved and enhanced disease surveillance, stricter biosecurity measures, and faster response protocols.
Meanwhile, ASF continues to spread in neighboring Negros Oriental, where new confirmed cases have been reported in the municipalities of Amlan and Siaton as well as in Tanjay City. | GPB
