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Sunday, February 23, 2003
Abra declares total ban on sale of hogs
BANGUED, Abra -- The outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in this capital town had kept the Office of the Provincial Veterinary on its toes since February 3 this year.
This developed after 11 of the 31 heads of hogs imported to the province displayed symptoms of the virus. The infected hogs were properly disposed.
In response to the initial outbreak, Gov. Vicente Valera immediately ordered a total ban on the importation of hogs as well as tightened surveillance to ensure that no more infected swine will be imported.
However, the initial outbreak was followed by more outbreaks in the barangays of Calaba, Cosili East and West and Kabildatan. Samples were sent to the Bureau of Animal Industry in Diliman, Quezon City, for laboratory testing.
The samples were found positive of the virus called FMD antigen sero type O, the type which infects swine.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Veterinarian Office continues to conduct a 24-hour surveillance in all entry points in Abra to prevent the importation of hogs, administered ring vaccination to thwart the spread of the virus and asked hog raisers to disinfect their pig pens and to treat their infected hogs with low-cost materials like salt, tawas, and laundry soap dissolved in water, aside from disinfectants now being distributed to the public.
The OPVET likewise established a disinfectant corner along the main road in Tangadan, San Quintin where vehicles coming in and out of the province could be cleansed.
The following measures were also identified and recommended during an emergency organization meeting of the Provincial Task Force FMD: total ban on the importation and exportation of hogs, either of slaughter, fattening or breeding; prohibit the transport of hogs from one town of the province to the other; discourage the butchering and sale of hogs; to subject for inspection all hogs to be butchered;
For all municipal mayors to pass an executive order asking all barangay officials to enforce a total ban and to report cases of FMD outbreaks in their areas of jurisdiction and the conduct of a massive information dissemination campaign about FMD. (Maritess Beņas)
(February 23, 2003 issue)
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