By News Desk  @bactiman63

In a follow-up on the Africa swine fever (ASF) situation in Leyte, Philippines, local authorities said at least 1,451 hogs were culled in three Leyte towns in the past seven days as the government rushes to curb the spread of African swine fever (ASF) in the province.

Image/skeeze

Local authorities started the culling on Jan. 14 after four pigs in Abuyog town tested positive for the highly-contagious virus, the first case detected in the Visayas.

More pigs were depopulated in nearby Javier and La Paz towns as more ASF cases have been detected.

The ASF virus has been found in 12 villages of Abuyog, three in Javier, and two in La Paz town.

Pigs affected by ASF usually show high fever, distinct reddish spots on the neck, chest, and extremities, and bleeding of internal organs that could lead to death within two to 10 days.

Although the virus does not affect humans, infected animals are unfit for consumption under the Food Safety Act.

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