Sunday, May 04, 2008
Sura hits South Cotabato towns
KORONADAL CITY -- Sixty percent of the cattle in three towns in South Cotabato are down with ephemeral fever locally known as "sura," a cattle and buffalo disease marked by short fever, shivering, lameness and muscular stiffness.
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Lorna Lamorena, South Cotabato's provincial veterinarian, said the disease has affected cows and carabaos in the towns of Sto. Nino, Banga, and Koronadal City.
It has spread to nearby Isulan town in Sultan Kudarat.
Though they have not yet monitored deaths of cattle, Lamorena said the number of farm animals affected by the disease has already sent an alarm to farmers in the area.
Lamonera said farmers are still using carabao or water buffalo in tilling the fields.
The disease can cause serious economic losses through deaths, loss of condition, decreased milk production, lowered fertility of bulls, delays in marketing and restrictions on the export of live cattle.
The disease hit sixty percent of more than 2,000 cattle in areas affected.
Lamorena has already sent a team in the affected areas and ordered a thorough medication to save the lives of the cattle.
The virus, a study showed, is transmitted by flying insects, including mosquitoes and flies.
It is characterized by sudden onset of fever, stiffness, lameness, nasal, and ocular discharges, depression, and constipation. (Malu Cadelina Manar)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Zamboanga. For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (May 4, 2008 issue)
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