TABUK CITY, Kalinga- – The City Veterinary Services Office (CVSO) confirms the incident of a third wave of African Swine Flu (ASF) in Barangay Masablang .
According to OIC City Veterinarian Dr. Carmen Wanas, at least four hogs from various piggery sites in the area were reportedly killed after showing signs and symptoms of ASF.
Wanas said Brgy. Masablang was one of the two barangays unaffected during the 1st and 2nd wave and the area closest to Pinukpuk municipality which reported ASF cases in January 26.
To control the spread of ASF, the veterinarian noted that biosecurity measures in pig farms have already taken place.
These essential biosecurity measures include the following restrictions: hog trading and buying of pork from ASF-infected barangays and municipalities, swill feeding, fresh roughage or feed harvested from ASF-infected areas, contact with wild or other pigs, sharing of equipment unless thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, and visitors allowed in pig pens.
With the new cases of ASF being reported, the CVSO reminds owners of pig farms to perform regular disinfection and install footbaths at the entrance of pig pens, and changing of footwear when entering pig pens. Also, the CVSO encourages the public to buy pork meat from only trusted sources if pork meat consumption is unavoidable.