The Office of the Provincial Veterinarian on Thursday, July 2, confirmed the province’s first case of African swine fever (ASF) this year after a sow and four pigs in a backyard farm in Barotac Viejo tested positive for the disease.

Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Darel Tabuada said authorities immediately dispatched a response team after receiving laboratory results from the Department of Agriculture’s Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Western Visayas on Tuesday, June 30.

The Barotac Viejo case is the province’s first confirmed ASF case this year.

When the team arrived, the infected animals had already been properly disposed of.

Authorities also thoroughly cleaned and disinfected the area.

“Based on our monitoring, in coordination with the Municipal Agriculture Office, there are no suspected cases in the surrounding community. We consider this an isolated incursion case,” Tabuada said.

He commended the farmer for complying with veterinary protocols, including the proper disposal of the infected animals.

To confirm the area is free of additional cases, the provincial government is completing the requirements to reclassify Barotac Viejo from a red (infected) zone to a pink (buffer) zone.

Tabuada reminded hog raisers, particularly backyard farmers, to observe Level 1 biosecurity measures, including installing perimeter fences, maintaining footbaths, limiting the movement of people in and out of farms, and avoiding swill feeding.

“I would like to emphasize that ASF has not been eliminated in Iloilo province, which means the threat remains. Based on our records, Iloilo recorded 28 positive cases in 2025, with 26 detected at border checkpoints and two traced to a stockyard in Pavia,” he said.

The province will strengthen existing protocols following reports of ASF cases in other provinces in Western Visayas, Tabuada said.

Authorities will focus on enforcing biosecurity measures in backyard and commercial farms.

Local government units, farmers, and slaughterhouse operators are also urged to ensure complete documentary requirements when transporting hogs.

Required documents include a veterinary or animal health certificate, a disinfection certificate for the transport vehicle, and a local transport permit.

Tabuada urged farmers not to panic but to strengthen biosecurity and adopt safer swine-raising practices.PNA