COTABATO CITY – A remote village in Arakan town, North Cotabato is the newest addition to areas affected by the infectious African swine fever (ASF) among domestic hogs in the province, prompting the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPVET) to take preventive measures.
OPVET Chief Dr. Rufino Sorupia said, one out of the 30 samples recently sent to the Bureau of Animal Industry facility in General Santos City from Sitio Penidan in Barangay Lanao Kuran, Arakan tested positive for ASF.
The village of Lanao Kuran borders Arakan and Marilog district in Davao City.
The hog infection in Arakan occurred despite existing boundary checkpoints mounted in all entry points of the town to ensure an ASF-free community.
“We already imposed all means with barangay leaders and the police to prevent the spread of the disease (to) other villages of Arakan,” Sorupia said over a local radio station on Friday.
Meanwhile, the number of infected villages in Magpet town, also in North Cotabato, is now at 11 with nearly 1,000 depopulated hogs.
These are Magcaalam, Ilian, Binay, Tagbac, Bantac, Pangao-an, Poblacion, Noa, Sallab, Manobisa, and Doles.
Areas near Magpet, such as Kidapawan City and President Roxas town, have implemented maximum precautions along their boundaries to avoid the entry of the hog disease. (PNA)
