A file picture of Sandakan Veterinary Services Department officials collecting samples from dead wild boar for tests.
SANDAKAN (Bernama): At least 100 Bornean bearded pigs in Sabah s forest reserves have been found dead so far, suspected to be from African Swine Fever (ASF), says Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) director Augustine Tuuga.
Since the discovery of 14 dead wild boar carcasses in Kinabatangan between December 2020 and January 2021, the SWD has been finding at least one dead carcass a day. The Sabah Veterinary Services Department couldn t find signs of the virus in the dead wild boar (in Kinabatangan) at first, but has now confirmed that they died from it.
African swine fever still ‘major risk factor’ for China as it bans Malaysian pig imports over outbreak fears
The deadly African swine fever once killed half of China’s pig population, sending the price of pork skyrocketing, and six small outbreaks have been reported since the start of 2021
China banned all imports of pigs, boars and related products from Malaysia this week after it detected its first-ever African swine fever outbreaks last month
Senate agri panel seeks declaration of nationwide state of emergency amid ASF problem By ERWIN COLCOL, GMA News
Published March 9, 2021 12:55pm The Senate agriculture committee is calling on the Department of Agriculture (DA) to recommend to President Rodrigo Duterte the declaration of a state of emergency in the entire country amid the threat of the African swine fever (ASF). During its meeting on Tuesday, the panel approved the motion of Senator Francis Pangilinan calling for a declaration of state of emergency in the island of Luzon in light of the ASF threat. We move that [the] DA recommend to the Office of the President the declaration of a state of emergency in Luzon so that public funds may be realigned to address the state of emergency, he said.
SunStar
+ March 08, 2021 THE province of Capiz has intensified its campaign against the African Swine Fever (ASF), as it recently formed a team to monitor its coastal areas.
In a one-page directive, Capiz Governor Esteban Evan Contreras created the Bantay sa Baybay campaign, which prohibits the entry of all pork products to all coastal areas of the province.
Capiz, which is under the Western Visayas, has been on heightened alert for the possible entry of ASF, but the according to the Department of Agriculture, the region remains free from the virus.
Contreras said the Bantay sa Baybay campaign includes monitoring of sea vessels and motor bancas or pump boats, especially those coming from nearby Masbate province.
March 01, 2021 THE Provincial Government of Negros Occidental is upbeat that private sector participation will further strengthen its bid to safeguard the province s P6-billion swine industry mainly by maintaining its status as African Swine Fever (ASF)-free, an official said.
Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena, who spoke at the takeoff ceremony of ASF Information Caravan in the province at the Capitol grounds in Bacolod City Monday, March 1, said private sector initiatives in fight against the dreaded disease affecting swine are most welcomed.
Decena, who is also the co-chair of the Provincial ASF Task Force, said these efforts are commendable and laudable.