AN African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak was recorded in seven barangays in M’lang, Cotabato.
According to M’lang Vice Mayor Joselito Piñol, not less than 12 pigs were already slaughtered after contracting the dreaded disease.
The first case of ASF was reported in barangay New Antique barangay New Lawaan, which spread to five other nearby barangays.
The affected areas were already being monitored while the borders were already closed to prevent the entry and exit of live swine with ASF.
“In Barangay New Antique alone, at least 8 pigs died last week and there are also reported deaths in nearby Barangay New Lawaan,” according to Piñol.
Piñol suspects that the virus came from processed meat (chorizo) bought by a vendor from affected Barangay New Antique.
“We conducted investigation and we found out that those raising hogs in these areas are using feeds in growing their hogs. However, a hog raiser that was severely affected with the ASF confessed that a leftover processed meat was fed to some of the pigs,” according to the vice mayor.