SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) – The Office of the Provincial Veterinarian has confirmed an African Swine Fever (ASF) case in Barangay San Benito Sur in Aringay town through an August 9 advisory sent to all municipalities and barangays in the province of La Union.
 
The ASF case is the province’s first in six months, as all the 19 municipalities and lone city of La Union has previously been under the surveillance yellow zone, which refers to areas heavily populated with swine and has a high volume of trade for pigs, pork, and pork products but has had no positive ASF case for more than 180 days.
 
Part of the aforementioned advisory is the establishment of a border control area in all neighboring municipalities and barangays and the restriction of movement of animals within one-kilometer radius from the index area.
 
Dr. Domingo Calub III, the officer-in-charge provincial veterinarian, said that the office’s focus is on trying to contain the new ASF case and craft pre-emptive measures to stop the ASF from spreading.
 
“We are trying to contain the disease and institute preventive measure[s] to prevent [its] spread,” Dr. Calub III said.
 
The Office of the Provincial Veterinarian has also advised all local government units to conduct monitoring and report suspected cases to the office or to their City/Municipal Agriculturists.
 
In response to the said advisory, the Municipality of Aringay has issued Executive Order No.  2023-32 to establish preventive control and regulatory measures to contain the ASF in the municipality.
 
The municipalities of Bagulin and Pugo have meanwhile issued executive orders and Balaoan town has released a memorandum for the temporary ban on the entry of live pigs, pork, and pork products; establishment of border control; and monitoring to help keep their areas free from ASF.
 
The local government unit of Caba has also created a social media post warning their residents about the purchase and consumption of pork. (JCR/AMB/CCMT/PIA La Union)