African swine fever (ASF): what pig raisers need to know
Deadly to pigs, harmless to people.
ReserveAfrican swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious viral disease of domestic and wild pigs; mortality can reach 100%. It is not a danger to human health (WOAH). There is no treatment, so prevention comes first. In September 2026 BAI cleared the first ASF vaccine for commercial sale (DA). Buy pigs only with papers: healthy weaned piglets from Ronda, Cebu.
How ASF spreads
Signs of ASF in pigs
| Sign | Detail |
|---|---|
| High fever | 40.5–42 °C |
| Red skinWhite pigs | Ears, tail, legs |
| Not eating, weak, blue skin | 24–48 h before death |
| Vomiting, diarrhoea | Sometimes bloody |
| Abortion | Pregnant sows |
| Sudden death | Few signs |
Source: WOAH technical disease card. ASF looks like hog cholera (classical swine fever): only a lab test tells them apart.
DA rules for moving live pigs
| Where the pigs are | What is needed |
|---|---|
| Infected farmor within 500 m of the case | No movement |
| 500 m to 1 kmSame city or municipality only | Negative ASF test |
| Red zone, beyond 1 kmPCR test per shipment, valid 3 days | Shipping permit, carrier registration, ASF clearance |
| Other zonesShipping permit valid 7 days | Vet health certificate, CFS-ASF or RAS-ASF |
Source: DA Administrative Circular No. 06 s. 2024, movement of live pigs for slaughter. No loading or unloading in transit; slaughter within 24 hours of arrival.
ASF in the Philippines and Cebu
The DA reported the first ASF case to WOAH on 9 September 2019, from backyard pigs in Rodriguez, Rizal (country report, 2019). DA zones run from red (infected) through pink (buffer), yellow (surveillance) and light green (protected) to dark green (free) (DA AC 12 s. 2019).
In Cebu, two barangays of Ginatilan, Cagsing and Calabawan, tested positive in September 2026 (SunStar, 20 Sep 2026). The province also bans hogs and pork from Negros under Executive Order 44 (SunStar, 1 Oct 2026). Ask your provincial veterinarian for the current zone of your town.
If pigs fall sick or die, report it to your city, municipal or provincial veterinarian, and do not slaughter or sell sick or dead pigs (DA, 2019). Use any vaccine only through your vet: WOAH warns that poor-quality vaccines can threaten ASF control (WOAH, 2025).
Feeding and housing that keep risk low: pig feeding guide and how to raise pigs. Market figures: live hog price, piglet price and lechon price. Gepanaga’s Farm opens in April 2027 with a vet health certificate for every batch: reserve piglets, lechon pigs or wholesale.
Questions
What is ASF?
African swine fever: a highly contagious viral disease of domestic and wild pigs, with mortality up to 100% (WOAH).
Can people get ASF from pork?
No. ASF is not a danger to human health (WOAH, FAO).
Is there an ASF vaccine in the Philippines?
Yes. On 2 September 2026 the DA announced that BAI approved the commercial sale of AVAC ASF LIVE. Use it through your vet.
What do I do if I suspect ASF?
Report it to your city, municipal or provincial veterinarian. Do not slaughter or sell sick or dead pigs (DA).
What papers do I need to move live pigs?
Outside red zones: a local shipping permit, a vet health certificate and a CFS-ASF or RAS-ASF (DA AC 06 s. 2024).
Sources
- WOAH, African swine fever
- WOAH, ASF technical disease card
- FAO, African swine fever
- WOAH, ASF vaccine standard adopted (29 May 2025)
- DA, BAI clears first ASF vaccine for commercial sale (2 Sep 2026)
- DA Administrative Circular No. 06 s. 2024
- DA Administrative Circular No. 12 s. 2019 (FAOLEX)
- DA ASF Bulletin No. 13 (4 Nov 2019)
- Philippines ASF country report, WOAH Asia (2019)
- SunStar, 1st ASF cases confirmed in Ginatilan (20 Sep 2026)
- SunStar, Cebu, Negros explore pre-shipment hog test (1 Oct 2026)
