Virus spreads affecting hogs in Misamis Oriental, Cagayan de Oro

November 1, 2008

By Lizanilla J. Amarga

Local veterinary offices yesterday disclosed that hundreds of hog livestocks in Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro have been affected by a viral disease that continues to spread in these areas resulting to the death of hundreds of hogs since early last month September. There are also some reports that the virus has not spared some cattles and chickens.
Because of this, Misamis Oriental provincial veterinarian Dr. Alfonso Ramosa and Cagayan de Oro City committee on health and sanitation chairperson Dr. Dante Pajo are now calling on meat inspectors to be extra careful when checking meat and even possibly beef supplies before allowing them to be sold in public markets as they may be
“double dead” and may be unsafe for human consumption
Ramosa said they have traced the origins of this virus and found out that it begun in town of Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental and spread out affecting most of the eastern parts of the province specifically Gingoog City, Salay, Sugbongcogon, Talisay, Kinoguitan, Jasaan and even Opol among others.
There are now reports that the virus has spread to Laguindingan, Initao, Claveria, Villanueva, Tagoloan. Manny Agustero, a dxIF Bombo Radyo commentator admitted that his newly-purchased piglet fell victim to this virus.
He said he is 90 percent sure that the viral disease is what is known as “hog cholera” as the affected livestock showed the symptoms of having red sores in the spleen area, ears, stomach and some other parts of the animal’s body.
But just to make sure he and Cagayan de Oro city veterinarian Perla de Asis have submitted blood samples to the regional office of the Department of Agriculture, he added.
Ramosa said the Provincial Veterinary Office-Misamis Oriental have already vaccinated some 5,668 pigs and still continue to give out vaccines to those municipalities which requested for supplies of these vaccines.
He added that those who have animals can easily go to their town’s agriculture officer and check out the vaccination schedule in their areas.
Pajo for his part said he has received reports that 50 of the 80 barangays in the city have some reports of livestocks that were affected by this virus.
However, he said he is now checking on allegations that although there are now over 5,000 livestock animal heads that had received vaccination the City Veterinary Office had ran out of this vaccine as early as September.
“Everything must be done to prevent the spread of this virus,” he told Gold Star Daily.
Among those 50 barangays with affected animal livestock are Bayabas, Kauswagan, Canitoan, Baikingon, Balubal, Balulang, Bayanga, Bonbon, Bulua, Carmen, Iponan, Lumbia, Patag, Besigan, Dansolihon, Mambuaya, Pagalungan, Pagatpat, Pigsag-an, San Simon, Taglimao, Tagpangi, Tignapoloan, Tuburan, Tumpagon, Agusan, Bugo, Camaman-an, Consolacion, Cugman, F.S. Catanico, Gusa, Indahag, Lapasan, Macabalan, Macasandig, Nazareth, Puerto, Puntod and Tablon.
Meanwhile, Ramosa clarified that, just as any viral disease, there is no treatment only prevention by injecting a vaccine of anti-bodies on the animal’s body or by means of natural resistance.
“But the virus only affects animals and does not affect people,” he assured over dxIF Bombo Radyo yesterday.
However, he said citing how the Meat Inspection Code provides that any animal livestock still suffering from any disease or has died from a disease should not be sold to makrets for human consumption.
Camiguin Provincial Governor Jesus Jardin Romualdo for his part said they have not yet received any reports of livestock which fell for this virus. However, he said he is now stepping up their preventive measures just to make sure the virus does not affect any of the vulnerable animals in their island.