THE Provincial Incident Management Team (PIMT) releases guidelines for arresting the spread of Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs) in Negros Occidental.

The guidelines have been released following the massive deaths of hogs in the province due to hog cholera and other diseases.

The guidelines highlighted cordoning through inter/intra local government unit checkpoints from the barangays when there is a reported mortality of swine affecting at least five backyard raisers, it said.

It also said that no movement of hogs and pork outside the barangays shall be observed and raisers may slaughter their hogs and consume the meat within the cordoned area only and the barangay captain must report any mortality to the local/LGU ASF Task Force-Disposal and Decontamination Team for Proper disposal and Decontamination.

At the city and municipal levels, if five barangays are affected within their respective jurisdictions, no movement of hogs or pork outside LGUs, except hogs from commercial farms observing provincial or national biosecurity compliance requirements shall be followed, it also said.

Inter-barangay movement of hogs and pork may be allowed, but intensify biosecurity measures by disinfecting incoming/outgoing vehicles and pigpens and strengthening public awareness. Hogs slaughtered, and their meat products must be consumed/processed within the city/municipality only.

In the district, if 50 percent of the total barangays within the district are affected or 75% of the LGUs within the district upon the IMT recommendation, there should be no movement of hogs and pork outside the district, except hogs from commercial farms observing provincial or national biosecurity compliance requirements shall be followed.

Hogs slaughtered and its meat products must be consumed/processed within the district only, it also said.

Checkpoints shall be established to contain/cordon hogs and its products within the district. Inter LGU animal quarantine checkpoints may be lifted upon recommendation by the Quarantine Team.

On the proper disposal of dead pig and infected or contaminated pork, the barangay chairman will identify appropriate burial site, provide vehicle for hauling of dead hogs/contaminated pork, require the owner to bury with the assistance of the barangay.

tanod/paravet when necessary and provide supervision and and take action against erring person/pig owner in accordance with the provision of the Provincial ASF Prevention Ordinance and applicable laws.

During the burial and disposal, the PIMT guidelines stated that body openings (mouth, ears, nose, anus, eyes and reproductive organ) of dead pigs shall be covered and secured first with duct tape to prevent body fluid leaks during transport, and hauling vehicles carrying dead pigs must be covered with leak-proof materials (mats or plastics).

Burying depth shall be five feet below ground level, lime must be spread over and around the buried pig body/carcass before finally covering with top soil, dispose by burying/burning all consumable materials, paraphernalia used in the burial process, and disinfect the burial site premises and facilities /equipment used.

All clothing, boots/shoes/slippers, hats of personnel involved shall likewise be immediately disinfected or washed property and secure the burial site from scavenger animals and or persons when practical and applicable.*