BACOLOD CITY — Hog mortalities in Negros Occidental have climbed to 1,902 across 12 local government units as of the June 25 report from the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian.
Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Placeda Lemana said that the 1,902 dead hogs account for 3.27 percent of the total hog population in the affected LGUs.
A total of 89 barangay (villages) in the 12 LGUs have been reported as affected.
Lemana clarified that not all of the hog deaths can be directly linked to African swine fever (ASF) because no confirmatory testing was conducted on most of the carcasses.
“Some of the dead hogs have already been buried, while others were sold off in panic selling amid the situation,” Lemana said.
Of the 12 LGUs, only San Enrique has been confirmed ASF-positive, based on an earlier statement by Mayor Jilson Tubillara.
The other LGUs with hog mortalities have submitted blood samples for testing.
“The signs and symptoms cannot be denied. They are the same as those of ASF and hog cholera. There is a big possibility, but we were no longer able to examine them because the animals were already gone,” explained Lemana.
She said Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has issued a protocol to stop the spread of hog deaths and an advisory to affected areas. EUGENE ADIONG