QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) has warned of the possibility of the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) this summer vacation because it is easy to catch the disease during the dry season.

According to DA Assistant Secretary and Deputy Spokesperson Rex Estoperez, many people will definitely go on vacation and picnic this summer season so there is a high possibility that the spread of the virus will accelerate.

Estoperez said that what they want to happen right now is to prevent the spread of ASF via "province to province" and "island to island" to prevent the increase of pigs that will be affected by it.

The warning came after ASF was considered a national concern after it spread to 16 regions in the country.

According to Estoperez, they have informed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. regarding the extent of the virus outbreak.

Based on the report of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), it was identified that on March 27, the first case of ASF was recorded in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) after an outbreak occurred in South Upi, Maguindanao del Sur.

Apart from BARMM, the virus has also affected the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region , SOCCSKSARGEN, and Caraga Region.

Only Metro Manila has no cases of ASF.

Estoperez has also called on passengers to avoid bringing fresh or cooked pork and pork products when they travel to the provinces, in solidarity with the government's efforts to control the further spread of ASF in the country. (PIA-NCR)