More checkpoints have been set up in Zamboanga City to prevent the entry of live hogs, pork products, and by-products without the required veterinary health certificates to ward off the incursion of the African Swine Fever (ASF).
The Office of the City Veterinarian (OCVet) on Saturday said it was still waiting for the result of confirmatory tests on three blood samples that tested positive for ASF at the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RADDL) of the Department of Agriculture in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.
The tests were done at RADDL General Santos City as the Ipil laboratory had no equipment to determine if the viral infection is due to ASF, hog cholera, or porcine reproductive respiratory syndrome, which all have similar signs and symptoms.
Agbayani said one of the three blood samples came from Barangay Mangusu.
Dr. Arnedo Agbayani, assistant OCVet chief, said he does not foresee a shortage of meat products in the city because a local shopping mall, which has its own ASF-free farm in Koronadal City, can meet up to 60 percent of the local demand.
Checkpoints were established in Barangay Tagasilay to monitor entry from Vitali District.
Vitali District is one of the seven veterinary districts in the city and is composed of Barangays Tigbalabag, Taguiti, Tumitus, Vitali, Tagasilay, Mangusu, Tictapul, Limaong, Licomo, and Sibulao.
A checkpoint was also put up in Barangay Licomo, the city’s boundary on the east coast.
Zamboanga Sibugay had earlier reported ASF cases in R.T. Lim, Titay, Buug, Alicia and Ipil towns.
“In the meantime, we are taking proactive measures pending the result of the confirmatory examination,” Agbayani said in an interview.
The confirmation and declaration of ASF will be done only by the Bureau of Animal Industry.