Three years after a devastating outbreak killed thousands of hogs, African swine fever (ASF) has broken out again in Negros Occidental, Governor Bong Lacson confirmed on Tuesday.
The governor stated that the resurgence was verified through laboratory examinations managed by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry alongside the Provincial Veterinary Office.
“We already have confirmed cases,” Lacson said in an interview.
“In fact, there is also one local government unit (LGU) that sent their sample to a laboratory here in Bacolod, and it was confirmed that there is ASF,” he added.
Lacson opted not to name the specific areas hit by the virus, choosing to let the local leaders make their own declarations, though he hinted they are located “mostly in the south.”
Following this, reports emerged quoting Mayor Jilson Tubillara of San Enrique—a southern municipality—who confirmed that ASF has hit his town, causing roughly 500 hog fatalities.
While Lacson reported that just over one percent of the province’s total hog population was affected as of June 18, he acknowledged that the numbers would likely climb.
“I asked to update this because it might be more. What’s important also is that our protocols in addressing ASF is now being followed. First thing is, if there’s a mortality, immediately bury. Disinfect, put lime and bury the pig. For those who still have healthy pigs, we suggest for them to sell them already,” he added.
The province has reactivated the containment protocols originally used during its first major ASF crisis in 2023.
“In fact, we were successful because we were already repopulating. Unfortunately, this was already said before, it will take a while before we can totally eradicate the ASF,” he said.
Meanwhile, in the capital of Bacolod City, Mayor Greg Gasataya took preemptive action by issuing an executive order to reform a specialized task force dedicated to ASF defense and contingency planning.
Even though Bacolod remains completely free of the virus for now, Gasataya emphasized that proactive defenses are vital.
“There is a need to reinforce city mechanisms on inspection, quarantine, transport regulation, and border control to prevent the entry and movement of ASF-infected hogs, pork, pork products, and related commodities into the city,” he said.
The mayor’s order includes launching widespread public awareness drives and deploying immediate interventions to buffer the local industry.
“Conduct investigation and institute control protocols in suspected areas of ASF and ensure the implementation of prevention and control, as well as quarantine measures,” he added.