THE Department of Agriculture (DA)-Northern Mindanao is urging the public to report to their local veterinary office if any unusual animal mortalities, be it caused by African Swine Fever (ASF) or other pig disease is observed.
Dr. Julesben Cesar Maquiling, the regional veterinary officer, said even before the outbreak of ASF in the country, the DA has been coming up with programs to make Mindanao hog cholera free.
“Dugay-dugay pa pod na nga program, then here comes ASF, so murag na backlog na sya nga program. So unahon sad gyud nato ning African Swine Fever,” Maquiling said.
Classical swine fever or hog cholera is a contagious, often fatal, disease of pigs clinically characterized by high body temperature, lethargy, yellowish diarrhea, vomiting, and a purple skin discoloration of the ears, lower abdomen, and legs.
“Ang atong mga farmers is mas nabalaka pa pud hinuon sila anang hog cholera over African Swine Fever. Kaning hog cholera naa mana siya nga sakit gud. Endemic na sa atoa (Our farmers are more concerned of hog cholera than African Swine Fever. The hog cholera is endemic),” Maquiling said.
“Usually kanang ginaingon nga ‘Ay, nay namatay tungod sa African Swine Fever,’ but tungod sa atoang testing, na confirm nato nga hog cholera ang sakit. Naa na siya gahitabo. Naa, ginagmay-ginagmay,” he added.
Maquiling said if the identified pig disease in an area is hog cholera, the DA will provide the vaccine to prevent the spread of the virus.
“Same case pud sa lain nga mga sakit. Kun naay bisag gamay tsismis, amo gyud nang adtuon, bisan pag dili na tungod sa ASF or unsa man gani na nga sakit. Kay tanan gyud nga bisan scare lang na sya ato gyapon na sya adtuon para ma confirm nato kun unsa gyuy rason ana nga mga sakit,” Maquiling said.
Hog cholera is a specific viral disease of pigs, it affects no other species. It is a notifiable disease in most countries of the world.