Manila, Jan. 19 -- At least 519 hogs were culled in Abuyog, Leyte in the past five days as cases of African swine fever (ASF) spread to nearby towns, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported on Tuesday.
Local authorities started the culling on Jan. 14 after four pigs in Can-aporong village in Abuyog town tested positive for the highly-contagious virus, the first case detected in the Visayas.
"The depopulated hogs were within the 500-meter radius of the first affected areas. This was our immediate action to contain the spread of ASF in Abuyog and nearby towns," said Francis Rosaroso, DA Eastern Visayas regional information officer.
Culled pigs were from the villages of Can-aporong, San Isidro, Bunga, Canmarating, Buenavista, and Loyons...