African swine fever has killed more than 400 pigs in two Bohol municipalities within just four days, revealing the severity of an outbreak that has already spread to 40 towns across the province.
Provincial veterinary officials confirmed Friday that over 300 pigs died in Candijay and more than 100 in Valencia due to the highly contagious viral disease that affects domestic and wild pigs with fatality rates reaching 100%.
The deaths occurred between Monday and Thursday, showing the rapid and devastating impact of ASF on Bohol swine populations.
“This shows how fatal ASF is to pigs,” said Tonton Aniscal, a Jagna town councilor who documented the outbreak’s progression.
The outbreak has prompted authorities to issue urgent warnings about the need for stricter containment measures to prevent further spread of the disease.
Local officials warn that continued pig deaths could force consumers to rely heavily on fish and chicken as alternative protein sources, potentially driving up prices for these commodities and affecting all consumers, including those not involved in pig farming.
The current outbreak is seen as escalation in Bohol’s battle against ASF.
Forty municipalities in Bohol province are now affected by African Swine Fever (ASF), according to provincial veterinary officials, a sharp increase from earlier in the year when the disease was first detected in the province.
In January, the municipal council of Ubay town in Bohol Province has been placed under a state of calamity due to ASF, marking the province’s first official recognition of the outbreak’s severity.
Bohol Governor Aris Aumentado has taken controversial steps in managing the outbreak.
In July, he ordered the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV) to cease the culling of hogs infected with African Swine Fever (ASF), breaking from standard containment protocols used elsewhere in the Philippines.