BOAC, Marinduque (PIA) — The Provincial Veterinary Office (PROVET) has announced that the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak in Marinduque is now under control.
In an interview with PIA Marinduque, PROVET head Josue M. Victoria explained the current status of the province’s ASF zones, which are categorized into “pink,” “yellow” and “green” zones.
“Kontrolado na ang ASF dito sa lalawigan at kasalukuyan ay nasa kategoryang ‘pink-zone’…ibig sabihin ay walang naitalang kaso sa mga bayan ng Mogpog, Boac, Gasan, Torrijos at Santa Cruz sa nakalipas na tatlong buwan, habang ang bayan ng Buenavista ay nasa kategoryang ‘yellow zone’ na ang ibig sabihin naman ay walang kaso ng ASF sa nakalipas na anim na buwan at maaaring ilagay pa sa ‘green-zone’ o walang naitala sa nakalipas na isang taon o higit pa,” Victoria explained.
[ASF is now under control in the province, and currently, we are classified as a ‘pink-zone’… meaning that there have been no reported cases in the municipalities of Mogpog, Boac, Gasan, Torrijos, and Santa Cruz in the past three months. Meanwhile, the municipality of Buenavista is classified as a ‘yellow-zone,’ which indicates no reported ASF cases in the past six months and may soon be upgraded to a ‘green-zone,’ where there have been no recorded cases in the past year or more.]
The last recorded ASF case in the province was in July 2024 in Santa Cruz. The outbreak was traced to the entry of live pigs from another province, which affected six barangays and led to the declaration of a state of calamity in the area.
According to PROVET’s experience in 2022, some pigs did not contract ASF due to their strong immunity, as observed in their monitoring efforts. However, due to the protocols, pigs within the one-kilometer radius of affected areas had to be culled, leading to financial losses for pig farmers.
Victoria emphasized the need for stricter monitoring to protect the swine industry, suggesting that not all pigs should be culled unnecessarily. He also highlighted the importance of systematic control measures to prevent the further spread of ASF.
In 2024, around 2,000 to 3,000 pigs were infected with ASF, while healthy pigs in the province numbered only about 300.
“Sistema ang dapat pairalin upang makontrol ang paglaganap ng ASF. Kailangan hanapin ang pinagmulan saka gawin ang ‘search and destroy’. Walang baboy na may ASF [at] walang ASF,” Victoria said.
[We need to implement a proper system to control the spread of ASF. It’s crucial to identify the source and carry out a ‘search and destroy’ operation. No pig should have ASF, and we should eliminate the virus.] (DN/AS/PIA MIMAROPA-Marinduque)
