The African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak in Bohol has now spread to 25 towns across the province, prompting renewed containment measures as local government officials confirmed a new case in Barangay Songculan, Dauis.
According to the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV), a hog in Songculan tested positive for ASF using a rapid test kit.
The confirmation has placed Dauis on high alert as authorities move to prevent a resurgence of the deadly swine disease in the municipality.
Dauis Mayor Roman Bullen said that 29 pigs believed to be infected were culled and buried on April 13, 2025 using a backhoe lent by the Bohol provincial government.
Bullen also met with affected families whose hogs reportedly died from the virus, underscoring the urgency of strict biosecurity protocols.
The OPV said it is coordinating closely with local government units (LGUs) to isolate cases, enforce quarantine zones, and roll out disinfection measures.
According to the agency, 14 of the 25 affected towns still have active ASF cases, while 11 towns have already been cleared of the virus.
Province-wide, a total of 112 barangays have reported ASF infections, although only 49 barangays currently have active cases.
While ASF poses no health risk to humans, it is highly contagious among pigs and often fatal.
The continuing spread of the virus threatens the province’s P6-billion hog industry, a vital economic sector for many rural households in Bohol.
The OPV clarified that although 112 barangays have reported infections since the virus re-emerged in November 2024, the total number represents only about 4.41 percent of all barangays in the province.
The office stressed that the outbreak remains manageable and that early detection and community reporting are key to containment.
In response to the Songculan case, Dauis officials are reimplementing measures that were first put in place during a previous ASF flare-up in April 2024.
At that time, the provincial government imposed border control checkpoints in affected areas to curb the virus’ spread.
Mayor Bullen reiterated that hog raisers need to comply with culling and reporting protocols to receive aid from both the municipal and provincial governments.
Despite the outbreak, the OPV assured that Bohol’s pork supply remains stable.
However, it acknowledged concerns about potential supply shortages and price hikes due to the ongoing export of locally raised hogs to other provinces.
The provincial government, together with the Department of Agriculture, continues to monitor ASF developments and urges the public to avoid buying or transporting pork products from unverified sources.