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| (Tacloban remains free from African Swine Fever (ASF) and ensuring all necessary steps are taken to prevent it from entering the city. Photo via Creative Commons) |
TACLOBAN CITY - The City Government of Tacloban has announced that the highly-urbanized city remains free from African Swine Fever (ASF).
According to Dra. Eunice Alcantara, head of the City Veterinary Office local government unit (LGU) of Tacloban is doing necessary steps so that the swine fever disease does not enter the city.
The LGU continues its tight border checkpoints near Marasbaras, Manlurip, and other entry points to ensure that no pigs can enter from other areas. They are also keeping a master list of pig owners in order to monitor them.
In order to control the disease in the country, all LGUs were ordered to strictly implement a movement plan and national zoning to prevent and eradicate ASF.
Apart from the zoning strategy, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has also disseminated information materials on ASF prevention and intensified surveillance on unusual swine activities.
Pigs affected by ASF manifest high fever, reddish spots on the neck, chest, and extremities, and internal bleeding of organs which leads to death within 2 to 10 days.
According to USDA, African swine fever is a highly contagious and deadly viral disease affecting both domestic and feral pigs in all age groups. ASF is not a threat to human health and cannot be transmitted from pigs to humans.
Last week several villages in Leyte have been affected by the ASF including Palo, MacArthur, Tanauan, Javier, La Paz, Dulag, and Abuyog. iTacloban (Source: Bombo Radyo Tacloban, PNA)