THE NEW cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) detected in four towns in Cagayan are already under control, according to its provincial veterinarian.
“The (new) detected ASF cases are just isolated cases and are already under control. The provincial veterinary office is closely monitoring these cases,” Cagayan Acting Provincial Veterinarian Noli V. Buen said in a television interview on Monday.
The Cagayan Provincial Veterinary Office recently confirmed that new ASF cases were detected in the towns of Claveria, Ballesteros, Piat, and Aparri.
Mr. Buen said hog farmers affected by ASF in Cagayan as of Aug. 23 reached 1,411 while a total of 5,535 hogs were culled.
Mr. Buen said the new ASF cases could be attributed to the halt in “inter-municipal” checkpoints to prevent the spread of the disease after those deployed at the borders were infected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“Those stationed in the checkpoints tested positive for COVID-19. We see this as the reason why there were new ASF cases detected in Cagayan,” he said.
Recently, the Department of Agriculture announced that ASF incidence in the country is already dropping.
“To date, 484 cities and municipalities have no reported ASF cases for at least three months, of which 74 have no reported cases for three to six months, and 410 have no cases for more than six months,” Bureau of Animal Industry Executive Director Reildrin G. Morales said in a statement on Aug. 23. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave