RAMOS, Tarlac (Jan. 7, 2023) — This northeastern Tarlac town remains the only municipality in the province with African Swine Fever (ASF) cases.
According to the Bureau of Animal Industry, 27 municipalities in four regions in the country still have ASF cases.
The ASF-affected regions are Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Western Visayas, and Eastern Visayas. Cases of ASF were documented in the provinces of Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Bulacan, Zambales, Quezon, Iloilo, and Northern Samar.
Aside from this municipality, other towns with recorded ASF cases are Baler, Casiguran, Dilasag, Dingalan, and Dipaculao, all from Aurora; Angat, Baliuag, Bocaue, Plaridel, San Miguel, and San Ildefonso, all from Bulacan; Laur, and San Jose City in Nueva Ecija; San Felipe, Zambales; Muaban, Quezon; Oton, San Miguel, Santa Barbara, Leganes, Alimodian, New Lucena, Mina, and Iloilo City, all from Iloilo; Catarman, and Victoria, Northern Samar.
ASF affects pigs of any age and has high mortality rates, resulting in losses in income and affecting pork supply.
Since there is no vaccination proven to prevent or cure infection, control begins on-farm and in most cases, pigs in affected places are culled to prevent the spread of the disease.