Camiguin confirms first ASF case outside of Mambajao

CAMIGUIN – Obtaining the latest results from the Department of Agriculture Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, the provincial government here confirmed the first African Swine Fever (ASF) cases outside of Mambajao on Monday.

“Multiple blood samples taken from pigs in Tangaro, Catarman tested positive for the ASF virus,” Gov. Xavier Jesus Romualdo said in a public announcement on Monday.

Late last month, the province of Camiguin has imposed a temporary ban on pork meat and by-products from outside the island after DA-1hter of pigs outside of the municipal slaughterhouses is a criminal offense punished under Republic Act 9296, otherwise known as the Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines, as amended by RA No. 10536,” the announcement read.

The latest results that the province received, July 22, from the said laboratory also confirmed additional ASF cases in Anito and Poblacion, Mambajao.

Following ASF control protocols, depopulation has been conducted in the infected premises and areas within 500 meters from the infected premises.

“It is unfortunate that, despite the prohibitions on the slaughter of pigs outside of the municipal slaughterhouses and on the bringing out of pork outside of each municipality, there are still those who clandestinely do so,” the governor added.

The local government has also noticed that while Camiguingnons are complying with ASF control and prevention measures and protocols, there are still a few who “selfishly do not follow even though they are fully aware of the distress the spread of ASF has been causing backyard hog raisers and their families.”

On July 21, blood samples were also taken from pigs in Anito and Bug-ong, Mambajao and the results confirmed the presence of the ASF virus in the said barangays.

The provincial government asks for the cooperation of all residents in the province to avoid further spread of the virus to other towns in Camiguin. (RTP/PIA-10)