Iloilo hog raisers lose P1.5B to ASF

The hog industry of the province of Iloilo lost P1.5 billion from African swine fever (ASF) infections, according to the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO).

A total of 151,914 pigs have either died because of the disease or been culled since the highly contagious disease hit the province in October 2022.

Each pig costs an estimated P10 thousand, PVO head Darel Tabuada said, adding that ASF also affected the sales of fresh and processed pork, veterinary drugs, and hog feeds.

After the first ASF case was detected in Oton last year, the disease has since spread to 23 other towns.

ASF is a viral disease that causes hemorrhagic fever in pigs that almost always ends in death. It is not considered as a human health threat.