HINIGARAN Mayor Jose Nadie Arceo said he is waiting for a validated laboratory result on the reported African swine fever cases in the town.
Arceo confirmed Wednesday, June 7, that hog deaths are also happening in some areas in the town although he is still collating the exact number.
Arceo said he was informed by Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez that seven of the 15 pigs transported to the city by Victorias Food Corp. tested positive for ASF.
The said pigs were from Barangay Anahaw.
Arceo said the pigs came from a backyard hog raiser and that there is no piggery farm in the town.
Victorias City has nine confirmed ASF cases according to its city veterinarian, Dr. John Michael Cabugwason.
Arceo, meanwhile, said he ordered Wednesday morning for the temporary stoppage of selling commercial pork in the town pending verification results. He said they will also purchase test kits for ASF.
Meanwhile, Kabankalan City Mayor Benjie Miranda confirmed that there are already pig deaths in the city, especially in Barangay Daan Banwa.
However, he still has to determine the exact number of pigs.
In Ilog, Rodante Perez, Ilog Municipal Agriculturist, said they have recorded about a hundred pigs that already died of animal disease.
He said biosecurity measures have been implemented through checkpoints.
Blood samples have been forwarded to the Provincial Veterinary Office, he also said.*