The Department of Agriculture (DA) downplayed concerns over African swine fever (ASF) detected in several La Loma lechon shops, calling it an isolated incident amid a continued nationwide decline in infections.

Agriculture spokesman Arnel De Mesa said Thursday third-quarter cases fell to 121 from the record-high 969 in the same period in 2024, while fourth-quarter infections dropped to 36 from last year’s 253. 

“There’s really a lot of changes. There’s no resurgence,” he said, noting that the latest figures reflect sustained improvement.

On the La Loma outbreak, De Mesa said the cases originated from violations in the stock farms supplying the area, including overcrowding, poor ventilation, and the mixing of sick animals. 

“It’s just an isolated case in La Loma,” he said, adding that 13 samples tested positive.

Despite the La Loma case, the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) already assured that roasted pigs from accredited Quezon City outlets remain safe. 

The agency also urged consumers to patronize accredited sources and urged local governments, hog raisers, traders, slaughterhouses, and retailers to enforce strict biosecurity, ban swill feeding and disinfect vehicles and equipment. 

To sustain the ASF downtrend, the DA rolled out an ASF regionalization scheme recognizing disease-free zones in accredited exporting countries under World Organization for Animal Health standards. 

Only DA-accredited countries may apply for regionalization, and exporters must submit detailed ASF surveillance data, control protocols and defined boundaries of disease-free areas.