Apart from Carcar City, five more areas in Cebu province tested positive for the African Swine Fever (ASF) virus, the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) reported on Monday, March 20.
In a statement posted on its Facebook page, DA-BAI said ASF has been detected in Cebu City, Liloan, Sibonga, Tuburan, and Bogo City.
According to the department, the local government units (LGUs) collected samples from the backyard farms in their respective localities, and these were tested using the Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) in Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic and Reference Laboratory (RADDL) Region VII.
"The BAI continues to coordinate with DA Regional Field Office VII and LGUs to gather data and reports on other areas with suspected cases of ASF as part of a traceback investigation to determine the extent of the outbreak in the province," it said.
The DA-BAI also said it would work closely with the respective LGU's Veterinary Offices and Agriculture Offices in the implementation of ASF prevention and control strategies.
Last week, Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia issued a memorandum order directing all mayors in the province, DA, and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to prohibit the culling of hogs to curb the ASF infection.
The order comes after Carcar City tested positive for the ASF virus.
