TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Aug. 10 (PIA) -- Just like the smuggling of shabu, Bohol could be in a great risk of the dreaded African Swine Fever (ASF) because of commercial couriers.

A Facebook post by an unnamed Boholano has exposed the alarm to local authorities and the local ASF Task Force about the possible breach this week.

In the Facebook post, authorities presumed that a Boholano attended a fiesta celebration in a neighboring province.

A fiesta goer who arrived in Bohol last week was cleared of the illegal meat: raw or processed as per port of entry measure, and by COVID-19 protocol has to undergo quarantine after coming back. 

The relatives sent food or "bring house," a revered Boholano fiesta tradition, through a popular courier. 

When the fiesta goer was on quarantine, family members in Bohol innocently posted on Facebook the following: "Ang namista, gi-quarantine pa. Ang bring house niabot na (The 'bring house' arrived ahead of the fiestagoer who is still on quarantine)."

Bohol has passed an ordinance in 2019 banning the entry of pork in whatever form: raw or processed, pork-related processed products, and even feeds sourced out from areas where ASF outbreak is noted.

ASF is a virus-caused hog disease that started in Africa and spread throughout the world decimating hog populations, causing Philippine authorities to put up strict biosecurity measures.

In the Philippines, the Department of Agriculture declared ASF outbreaks in most areas in Luzon, especially around Metro Manila extending to Southern Luzon, several provinces in Mindanao, and in nearby Leyte.

The said Facebook post, which came from an account registered in eastern Bohol, led authorities to believe that the smuggled meat which arrived by courier could come from Leyte.

Just like shabu, authorities later found out that while strictly implementing guard protocols at the airport and ports of entry, shabu came to Bohol allegedly by courier.

As to ASF, the virus can be spread through human contact, can be carried by vehicles from ASF contaminated areas, and the virus can survive even when cooked or processed.

Since last year, Bohol ASF Task Force members have ensured that vehicles crossing to Bohol from neighboring provinces are disinfected fully and washed thoroughly to rid of the chances of accidentally bringing the virus and contaminating Bohol.

Bohol keeps a multi-billion hog industry, about 90% of these come from backyard hog growers who would be severely affected by the disease should it infect their farms.

In view of this, Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Stella Marie Lapiz met with local couriers to discuss measures on how they can help keep Bohol ASF-free and for the couriers to be safe from the penalties put up by the ordinance. (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)