THE Philippines has reported 58 new African swine fever outbreaks on the main island of Luzon, culling 11,074 more pigs, according to the Bureau of Animal Industry.

In a report to the World Health Organization, the bureau said the municipality of Mulanan in Quezon province was the hardest hit, forcing it to slaughter 1,556 pigs, bureau Director Ronnie D. Domingo said.

It was followed by Naga City with 1,000 culled pigs and Canaman with 746 culled pigs. Both are in Camarines Sur.

The towns of Baggao in Cagayan and Kabayan in Benguet posted the least number of pigs culled at one each.

The country has culled 282,899 pigs affected by the disease as of May 4, since the outbreak started last year, Mr. Domingo said in a mobile-phone message.

The other areas with new outbreaks were Laurel, Batangas; Saguday, Quirino; San Fernando City, La Union; Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya; Indang, Cavite; Botolan, Zambales; Calamba City, Laguna; Dilasag, Dipaculao, and Maria Aurora in Aurora; Angono, Tanay, and Binangonan in Rizal.

Also affected were Binmaley, San Carlos City, Basista, Malasiqui, Laoac, San Fabian, Asingan, Bugallon, and Labrador in Pangasinan; San Manuel, San Pablo, Reina Mercedes, Echague, Quirino, Mallig, San Isidro, Gamu, Luna, Roxas, San Guillermo, and Ramon in Isabela.

Catanauan and Lopez in Quezon; Asipulo, Lagawe, and Hingyon in Ifugao; Pilar, Orion, and Mariveles in Bataan; Solana, Amulung, Allacapan, and Iguig in Cagayan; and La Trinidad in Benguet also reported outbreaks.

In the Bicol region, Camarines Sur reported cases in Camaligan. Gainza, Calabanga, Bombon, Magarao and Cabusao.

The outbreak was traced to illegal movements of animals and swill feeding, according to the May 11 report. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

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