Border control tightened in ASF-hit Cebu City barangay

Local

HOG raisers in Barangay Sapangdaku, Cebu City are facing tighter movement controls after 10 pigs tested positive for African Swine Fever (ASF).

The city's Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF) is inspecting nearby backyard farms to determine whether the infection has spread beyond the initial group.

In an interview on Wednesday, Oct. 21, DVMF officer-in-charge Dr. Jessica Maribojoc said the department had begun mapping hog-raising areas within a 500-meter radius of the affected site while coordinating with barangay officials and other city offices to identify animals that may require testing or collection.

She said the 10 pigs that initially tested positive had already died. However, the total number of infected animals remained undetermined, as results from another batch of samples collected on Monday were still awaiting confirmation.

The city also tightened movement controls in the area, establishing a border checkpoint in Sapangdaku on Wednesday night. The DVMF is working with Cebu City Police Office Station 9 to monitor the movement of live hogs and pork products.

Maribojoc said the checkpoint would help prevent potentially infected hogs from being transported to other barangays.

The DVMF coordinated with Station 9 during a meeting on Oct. 14. Police personnel committed to securing the checkpoint and helping disseminate information about ASF prevention.

Hog owners transporting animals from Toong to Sapangdaku must coordinate with the DVMF for testing before transport. Only hogs that test negative for ASF will be issued a clearance slip, which owners must present at the checkpoint.

“Wala tay penalties, but dili siya pasudlon,” Maribojoc said, explaining that hogs without clearance would not be allowed to proceed.

Owners must arrange for their animals to be tested before transport. Those that test negative will receive a white slip or ASF-negative result form to present at the checkpoint, she said.

The city is also checking nearby farms and backyard raisers to determine whether other animals may have been exposed to the virus.

Maribojoc said the situation was not yet alarming because the cases remained isolated. However, she identified Cambinocot and Lusaran, which have substantial hog populations, as areas of concern if multiple pig deaths were reported within a short period.

She said the infection in Sapangdaku was confirmed after nearly three months without a positive result in the area.

Maribojoc raised the possibility that the movement of pork products between Toong and Sapangdaku during their respective fiestas may have contributed to the spread of the virus. Toong held its fiesta on Aug. 30, followed by Sapangdaku in September.

Residents from the two communities may have attended each other's celebrations, potentially bringing pork products between barangays, she said.

However, Maribojoc stressed that this remained a possible explanation and that the source of infection had not been established.

She noted that Sapangdaku had previously restricted the entry of live hogs from Toong without the required clearance.

Maribojoc also urged hog raisers to strengthen farm biosecurity and immediately report sick animals or unusual deaths.

She recommended installing disinfectant footbaths at farm entrances, changing clothes and bathing before entering pigpens, and storing animal feed in covered containers to reduce the risk of contamination.

People visiting communities with infected hogs should also observe proper hygiene before returning to farms or coming into contact with other pigs, she said.

Maribojoc further urged hog raisers to maintain adequate water supplies, particularly as Cebu prepares for the expected El Niño period.

She warned that haze could also affect pigs and chickens by causing respiratory irritation and stress, potentially reducing their food and water intake. These symptoms, however, do not necessarily indicate ASF.

The DVMF urged hog raisers to cooperate with veterinary personnel, comply with movement restrictions and promptly report suspected infections to help prevent the virus from spreading to other areas.(TGP)