BLOOD COLLECTION. City Veterinary Services Office pPersonnel collect blood samples of swine for disease surveillance in Barangays Sanghay, Danao, and Culian in Mati City, Davao Oriental, on Wednesday (September 18). (Contributed Photo)
DAVAO CITY -- As part of the measures to prevent the entry of the African swine fever (ASF), Mati City in Davao Oriental has started screening the entry of transported meat products into the area.
In a meeting by Task Force Bantay Karne (TFBK) on Tuesday, City Veterinarian Marites Erispe said all fresh meat products passing through a designated checkpoint will be thoroughly screened.
"All those that fail the strict screening would be confiscated or prevented from entering the city. This is to ensure that ASF virus would not enter the city and infect the swine industry of Mati City," Erispe explained.
Erispe also appealed to local hog raisers to avoid swill-feeding (feeding of food scraps to pigs).
On Wednesday, the City Veterinary Services Office (CVSO) conducted inspections on backyard piggeries in various barangays as a proactive measure to prevent the entry of ASF in the city.
In coordination with the Department of Agriculture-Regional Animal Disease Diagnostics Laboratory, the CVSO also conducted blood collection of swine and goat for disease surveillance. (PNA)
