Local authorities in the Philippines culled at least 50 pigs in Quezon City in a bid to prevent the spread of African swine fever (ASF) in other areas.
This came after 11 dead pigs from Barangay Bagong Silangan in Quezon City tested positive for ASF.
Inquirer.net reported that Quezon City mayor Joy Belmonte explained that the culling of pigs is part of standard protocol during an animal disease outbreak.
Pigs within the infected zones or within the one kilometres radius are automatically culled to prevent the ASF from infecting other animals in nearby areas.
Even before the positive ASF test results came out, the local government had already ordered the gradual phase-out of piggeries within the city in keeping with its land-use plan, which does not contain any zones for agricultural purposes.
The City Veterinary Office also vowed to intensify monitoring of major public markets and slaughterhouses to prevent the entry of ASF-infected meat.
According to the Department of Agriculture, more than 7,400 pigs in farms in Antipolo City and Rodriguez in Rizal province and in Guiguinto in Bulacan province were culled to prevent the spread of ASF.