Phillipines: Hog Cholera (swine fever) outbreak

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net....oriental.html

Friday, October 31, 2008
Hog cholera hits Misamis Oriental
By Annabelle L. Ricalde and Cong B. Corrales

CAGAYAN DE ORO -- Agriculture officials imposed on Thursday strict isolation of backyard piggeries in Misamis Oriental following a reported outbreak of the infectious hog cholera or swine fever.

Dr. Alfonso Ramosa, Misamis Oriental chief veterinarian said the outbreak has spread to Gingoog City and six municipalities since the disease was first reported in the town of Magsaysay last July.

"Ma-consider gyud nga outbreak tungod sa level sa cases and we expect nga mosaka pa gyud in the next few days (It is really considered an outbreak considering the level of cases and we expect it to increase in the next few days)," Ramosa said.

The outbreak has prompted the Misamis Oriental Provincial Veterinary Office to impose strict isolation to stop the movement of infected swine to unaffected areas.

The Cagayan de Oro City Veterinary Office has also imposed strict monitoring of hogs that are brought for slaughter at the City Abattoir in Barangay Cugman.

Hog cholera sometimes called as swine fever only affects pigs and has no detrimental effects on other animals or humans. It is a highly contagious disease of pigs and wild boar.

However, the potential damages to the pig or backyard piggery industry would be severe.

Dr. Bemes G. Mondia, Regulatory Division chief of the Department of Agriculture Northern Mindanao said once the virus hits a farm or piggery, "the mortality ranges from 40-80 percent."

"Chances of recovery of infected hogs are very low and the rest will succumb to death," Mondia said in his 2007 report on the disease published in the DA Northern Mindanao website.

In 2005, the DA reported a swine population of 850,570 in Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis Oriental.

Ramosa said at least 290 hogs infected by the disease have already been slaughtered as of Oct. 27.

He said the town of Jasaan is among those badly hit by the hog cholera with 120 heads already slaughtered. Magsaysay, where the disease was first reported, came second with 60 heads affected.

The rest of the affected areas are: Gingoog City, 40 heads; and the towns of Medina, 30 heads; Talisayan, 20 heads; Kinoguitan, 10 heads; and Tagoloan, 10 heads.

He said most of the hogs that got sick are those from backyard piggeries. None of the big piggery farms in Bukidnon have reported the disease.

"There was no treatment initiated because the disease is caused by virus and has no specific effective medication," Ramosa told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro Thursday.

Isolation

Ramosa said they have issued a memorandum to all local government units in 22 towns of Misamis Oriental and the cities of Gingoog and El Salvador to strictly control the movement of hogs out from their areas to prevent the spread of the disease to the unaffected herds.

Ramosa advised swine owners who suspect their pigs may have hog cholera to immediately contact their municipal veterinarian.

He said local government veterinarians have launched a massive vaccination program on the unaffected herds to stop the outbreak.

Ramosa said they are worried that the disease will continue to spread throughout the province by vehicles used in carrying pigs or by persons who travel between backyard piggeries.

He said the disease is also spread by uncooked garbage in feeds and people dealing with pigs like buyers and dealers.

Cagayan de Oro

If the animal disease spreads to Cagayan de Oro, the City Veterinary Office (CVO) said they are ill-prepared to protect the local backyard piggery industry.

Mariano Cris Velez, a city agriculturist said the CVO wants to meet the disease head-on by conducting massive vaccination among the herds in Barangay Bugo and Puerto, the entry points from the affected Misamis Oriental towns.

"The latest reports of hog cholera incidence were from Tagoloan. That's why we have tentatively scheduled vaccinations of hogs in Barangay Bugo on Nov. 13," Velez said.

But Velez said they only have 50 vaccination vials enough for 500 heads. A vial of vaccine, he said cost P160 each.

Velez said they have used up their supply of vaccine when they vaccinated hogs in Barangays Carmen, Consolacion, Tumpagon, Balulang, Iponan and San Simon last Oct. 2 when swine owners reported a possible outbreak.

He said they managed to save 100 pigs in Barangay Tumpagon because of the timely vaccination.

Velez also said the CVO had taken steps in ensuring that "good pig meat" will be sold to consumers by advising the City Abattoir to strictly monitor the slaughter of swine that will be sold in the markets.

Pork retailers like Eddie Daig, who sells meat in Cogon Public Market said they are also keeping an eye on all the butchered pigs coming their way.

Daig said pork retailers like him knows how to spot a meat that died of hog cholera by its color.

Andy Gogo, a hog trader said they will not dare to buy infected meat for fear that they will be caught. He said he too is keeping an eye on any infected meat that might be smuggled to the city markets.(Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro)

For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Davao.

[Shiloh]

Re: Phillipines: Hog Cholera (swine fever) outbreak

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/cag...ll.humans.html
Friday, October 31, 2008
Hog cholera doesn't kill humans

HOG cholera or swine fever affects only pigs and has no detrimental effects on other animals or humans.

However, the potential damages to the pig industry would be severe.

The disease is endemic in Asia, Central and South America, and parts of Europe and Africa. It was believed to have been eradicated in the United Kingdom by 1966. It was eradicated in the United States of America in 1978.

On August 20, 2007, the Department of Agriculture investigated the outbreak of swine flu in Nueva Ecija and Central Luzon prompting the Philippine National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) to raise a hog cholera "red alert" warning over Metro Manila and five regions of Luzon.

The pesti virus almost ruined the backyard piggeries in Bulacan and Pampanga, top hog producers in Central Luzon.

Agriculture officials said it killed at least 500 pigs of the 5,438 infected heads before it was contained.

Hogs stricken with the virus lose their appetite, show signs of diarrhea, and later, constipation and red spots on the skin. It also causes fever, skin lesions, convulsions, and usually (particularly in young animals) death within 15 days.

The acute form of hog cholera is highly virulent, causing persistent fevers that can raise body temperatures to as high as 107?F.

The chronic form of hog cholera causes similar clinical signs in affected swine, but the signs are less severe than in the acute form.

Discoloration of the abdominal skin and red splotches around the ears and extremities often occur. Pigs with chronic hog cholera can live for more than 100 days after the onset of infection.

The mild or clinically inapparent form of hog cholera seldom results in noticeable clinical signs. Affected pigs suffer short periods of illness often followed by periods of recovery. Eventually, a terminal relapse occurs.

The most common method of transmission is direct contact between healthy swine and those infected with hog cholera.

The disease can also be transmitted through contact with body secretions and excrement from infected animals. Healthy pigs coming into contact with contaminated vehicles, pens, feed, or clothing may contract the disease. Birds, flies, and humans can physically carry the virus from infected to healthy swine.

Swine owners can inadvertently cause infection through feeding their herds untreated food wastes containing infected pork scraps.

How swine owners can protect their animals

* Check animals at least twice a week for unusual signs or behaviors.
* Make sure food waste is properly heated to destroy pathogens.
* Isolate newly purchased hogs for at least 21 days.
* Isolate sick pigs until the cause of illness is determined.
* Fence property to prevent wild pigs from coming in contact with domestic herds.
* Practice standard bio-security measures, such as cleaning and disinfecting clothing, equipment, and vehicles entering and leaving the farm.

[Shiloh]

Re: Phillipines: Hog Cholera (swine fever) outbreak

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/cag...tal.towns.html

Saturday, November 01, 2008
Hog cholera spreads to 2 Misamis Oriental towns
By Annabelle L. Ricalde and Cong B. Corrales

THE hog cholera virus stroking Misamis Oriental has leaped to the eastern side of the province, leaving Cagayan de Oro's backyard pig farms unscathed, officials said Friday.

Dr. Alfonso Ramosa, Misamis Oriental chief veterinarian, said the hog cholera or swine fever has spread to the eastern part of the province in the towns of Opol and Laguindingan.

Ramosa said the provinces' field veterinarians reported Friday that several herds of swine in Opol and Laguidingan have contracted the pesti virus.

He said the local government officials of Opol and Laguindingan went to their office Friday to withdraw stocks of the anti-hog cholera vaccine.

Because the virus spread now seems to be unstoppable, Ramosa said he has urged the local government units of all 22 towns of Misamis Oriental to get the vaccine from the Provincial Veterinary Office.

"I am communicating with all the mayors to claim their vaccine before it is too late," Ramosa said.

He said some 1,200 vials of vaccine are available at the provincial Capitol of Misamis Oriental. Each vial, which costs P180, can inoculate ten pigs.

According to Bureau of Agricultural Statistics of the Department of Agriculture (BAS-DA), the province of Misamis Oriental has a swine population of 179,310 hogs as of January 1 this year.

Backyard raisers raise most of these hogs.

Hog cholera is fatal to swine and has no known cure while it has no harmful effects to other animals and humans.

Dr. Bemes G. Mondia, Regulatory Division Chief of the Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao, in his 2007 report on the disease, said the pesti virus could wipe out the swine population "in a matter of days."

"Once the virus hits a farm or piggery, the mortality ranges from 40-80 percent. Chances of recovery of infected hogs are very low and the rest will succumb to death," Mondia said in his report published on the DA Northern Mindanao website.

Spread

It is not known how the virus was able to bypass Cagayan de Oro, which also has a big number of backyard piggeries in its rural barangays.

Ramosa said the virus might have been carried in vehicles used to carry pigs or by persons who travel between backyard piggeries.

He said the disease can also be transmitted through contact with body secretions and excrement from infected animals or healthy pigs coming into contact with contaminated vehicles, pens, feed, or clothing. Birds, flies, and humans are also known to physically carry the virus from infected to healthy swine, Ramosa said.

The Misamis Oriental Provincial Veterinary Office has imposed strict isolation of backyard piggeries in Misamis Oriental following the outbreak.

The hog disease was first reported last July in the town of Magsaysay where it killed 60 pigs. The infectious virus spread to Gingoog City and six other municipalities, resulting to deaths in the local swine population.

The Misamis Oriental Provincial Veterinary Office said the pesti virus has killed at least 290 pigs as of Oct. 27.

This is the second major outbreak of hog cholera in the country. The disease is endemic to many parts of Asia.

The pesti virus almost ruined the backyard hog farming industry in Bulacan and Pampanga, top hog producers in Luzon, in August 2007.

In Cagayan de Oro, city veterinarians are making sure their anti-hog cholera vaccination is one step ahead of the spreading virus.

The City Veterinary Office appears to be winning the war on hog cholera based on the reports that the virus has leapfrogged to the eastern part of Misamis Oriental.

No outbreak has been monitored in Cagayan de Oro City.

Councilor Cesar Ian Acenas, chair of the City Council for agriculture and fisheries, said when they received the report of the outbreak last July, city veterinarians immediately concentrated their efforts on the hinterland barangays where most of the backyard hog farms are located.

Acenas said a total of 2,000 hogs were vaccinated in the upland barangays of the city. He said the vaccination was timely since reports of possible infection have begun to come in from backyard piggery owners in 50 barangays.

"More or less 50 barangays ang nag report but katong na dapatan sa vaccine last September wala na apektahan. Naunahan nato ang sakit," Acenas said.

Dr. Lucien Anthony Acac, Cagayan de Oro City chief veterinarian, said they will take no chances despite their earlier success in stopping the spread of the virus.

Acac said they need the cooperation of backyard hog raisers in their campaign.

He said hog raisers should immediately isolate pigs suspected to be infected with the virus to prevent the spread of the disease to the healthy herd.

He said backyard piggeries are likely to be hit by the disease since they do not have veterinarians available 24/7 unlike larger swine farms that employ veterinarians to monitor their stock.

Acac added they have concentrated their present campaign on the backyard piggeries in Barangays Bugo and Iponan, which are next to the towns of Tagoloan and Opol.

He said they are also giving priority to Barangays Tumpagon, San Simon, Dansolihon and Besigan.

Acac said an outbreak in these upland barangays will be disastrous since the pesti virus is waterborne.

[Shiloh]

Re: Phillipines: Hog Cholera (swine fever) outbreak

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/cag...spreading.html

Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Hog virus outbreak spreading
By Annabelle L. Ricalde

AFTER having spread in the municipalities of Opol and Laguindingan, it now appears that the hog cholera virus has struck another town on the western side of Misamis Oriental.

Misamis Oriental chief veterinarian Alfonso Ramosa confirmed Monday that the disease has spread to the municipality of Alubijid, particularly in Barangay Lumbo.

Ramosa said a caretaker of backyard hog raiser in Barangay Lumbo went to the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) Monday morning to avail of the anti-hog cholera vaccine for the 15 herds of swine owned by Joar Dy.

"Four pigs of their neighbors have died already so he was tasked by his employer to ask for the vaccine" Ramosa told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.

However, the PVO clarified it will not give vaccines to individuals but will course these through the local government units (LGUs) or to the municipal agriculturists. This procedure makes it easier for the PVO to monitor the outbreak of the virus.

Ramosa also confirmed that swine fever is still prevalent and it cannot be brought under control unless a massive vaccination is undertaken.

Misamis Oriental has a total swine population of 180,000 hogs mostly tended by backyard raisers, Ramosa said.

To have an effective vaccination, 80 percent of the total population should be vaccinated, Ramosa said.

"So our target is to vaccinate around 144,000 heads," Ramosa added.

The PVO needs around P2.4 million for the vaccination.

The Provincial Board (PB) on Monday invited Ramosa to its regular session to determine the amount needed to stop the spread of the pesti virus.

Ramosa emphasized that if a swine aged 21-days is vaccinated, there should be a repeat of the vaccination after three weeks. For matured hogs, the required vaccination is twice a year.

He said the virus has also affected several barangays in Cagayan de Oro before spreading to the western side of Misamis Oriental.

Ramosa said the virus might have been carried in vehicles used in carrying swine or by people traveling between backyard piggeries.

He said the disease can also be transmitted through contact with body secretions and excrement from infected animals or healthy pigs coming into contact with contaminated vehicles, pens, feed, or clothing.

Birds, flies, and humans are also known to physically carry the virus from the infected to healthy swine, Ramosa said.

The Misamis Oriental PVO had imposed strict isolation of backyard piggeries in Misamis Oriental following the outbreak.

"Gitawag man gud na nga epidemiology, so lisod gyud ang pag-trace and it will take time. Mao na ang weaknesses nato," Ramosa said.

The PVO chief, however, is disappointed that some municipal officials have remained unconcerned despite the information their office has provided.

"Naa naman unta available nga vaccine for their municipality pero wala man nagkuha," Ramosa said.

The PVO is expecting another five percent additional mortality in the town of Jasaan, which is among those badly hit by the pesti virus with 102 mortality.

The town's 15 barangays reportedly affected are San Isidro with 20 mortality; Solana with 20 mortality; Danao; Jampason and San Nicolas with 10; Natubo, Lower Jasaan, Aplaya and Luz Banzon with five mortality; Upper Jasaan, Kimaya, Corrales and Bobontugan with two mortality; San Antonio with three mortality and I.S. Cruz with one.

[Shiloh]

Re: Phillipines: Hog Cholera (swine fever) outbreak

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net....epidemic.html

Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Hog cholera in Oro now an epidemic

CAGAYAN DE ORO -- The hog cholera outbreak in this city has turned from worse to "epidemic proportions," killing at least 2,300 pigs in the past five days, a city veterinarian said.

Dr. Perla Asis, chief veterinarian of the City Veterinary Office (CVO), said Tuesday that if the casualty figures will go up in the next 10 days, they will already declare the hog virus as "pandemic".

"The next 10 days will be critical. We can be facing a pandemic," Asis said.

The hog cholera outbreak in this city is the highest reported in the Philippines. In August 2007, a similar outbreak occurred in Bulacan and Pampanga, top hog producers in Luzon, killing 500 hogs and almost ruining their backyard piggery industry.

The virus, which is endemic to Asia and sometimes called as swine fever, don't kill other animals or humans.

Erwin Culanag, city information officer, said the City Government is allotting all its available resources to buy additional vials of vaccine against the disease.

"The Office of Mayor Jaraula will provide reasonable amount to inoculate all the hogs in the city," Culanag told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro by phone.

The CVO estimated the swine population in Cagayan de Oro at 23,250. Many of the hogs are raised by backyard owners who depend on them for ready cash in times of need.

Asis said that 10 percent of the swine population has already been killed by the virus.

Her assessment on the hog cholera outbreak in Cagayan de Oro is a shocking development, especially after city officials said Friday that massive inoculation has saved the local swine population.

Councilor Cesar Ian Acenas, chair of the City Council for agriculture and fisheries, said city veterinarians who concentrated their vaccination efforts at the hinterland barangays appeared to have prevented the virulent disease from infecting the local swine population.

The pestivirus was first reported in Magsaysay town in Misamis Oriental last July where it killed 60 pigs. The virus has since then spread to Gingoog City and seven other towns.

Asis said they have no idea why the virus suddenly became virulent among the swine population in Cagayan de Oro.

Misamis Oriental chief veterinarian Alfonso Ramosa said the virus might have been carried in vehicles used in carrying pigs or by persons who travel between backyard piggeries.

He said the disease can also be transmitted through contact with body secretions and excrement from infected animals or healthy pigs coming into contact with contaminated vehicles, pens, feed, or clothing.

Birds, flies, and humans are also known to physically carry the virus from infected to healthy swine, Ramosa said.

He said hogs stricken with the virus lose their appetite, show signs of diarrhea and later, constipation, and red spots on the skin. It also causes fever, skin lesions, convulsions and usually (particularly in young animals) death within 15 days.

The Misamis Oriental Veterinary Office had imposed strict isolation of infected herds in the province.

Ramosa said backyard piggery owners should practice standard biosecurity measures, such as cleaning and disinfecting clothing, equipment, and vehicles entering and leaving the farm.

Vaccination

Asis meantime said they will continue to rely on preventive vaccination to check the spread of the virus.

She said the city received a shipment of 1,000 vials of vaccine from the Department of Agriculture-Northern Mindanao and Univet-Unahco, but these were already used up in "a matter of days."

Asis said they are expecting a shipment of 2,000 vials from BMEG, a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation, which is donating the vaccine.

"Hog cholera is a zoonotic disease. Buot ipasabot, walay lain matakdan ana kun dili ang baboy ra. Pero kun dili man gud ma-contain luoy kaayo ang local swine industry nato," she said.

Asis said the best way to stop the epidemic is prevention and control. (Cong B. Corrales/Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Sunnex)

[Shiloh]

Re: Phillipines: Hog Cholera (swine fever) outbreak

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/cag...hog.virus.html
Friday, November 07, 2008
Fighting the hog virus
By Cong B. Corrales and Annabelle L. Ricalde

FIELD technician Francisco Roa had barely taken a rest when the call from Chief Veterinarian Dr. Lucien Anthony Acac came for him to proceed to the Gentiles Compound in Barangay Camaman-an, this city Tuesday afternoon.

Urcisio Gentiles, a trader who lives at the compound, was worried that the three piglets he is raising might be infected by the hog cholera outbreak that have already killed more than 2,300 pigs in Barangays Macabalan, Balulang, Carmen, Baikingon, San Simon, Macasandig and Consolacion, this city.

Gentiles made the phone call to the City Veterinary Office Tuesday morning after hearing the news from the radio.

Roa, who works at the City Veterinary Office for the past 15 years, quickly jumped into his red Honda motorcycle and drive away.

"This is my fifth house call for today," Roa told Sun. Star Cagayan de Oro.

The City Veterinary Office is fighting the hog cholera outbreak with a massive vaccination campaign aimed to inoculate Cagayan de Oro's swine population of 23,250 heads, many of them raised by backyard raisers like Gentiles.

With only 11 field technicians, Acac and his crew are working round-the-clock to inoculate the swines before the virus can infect them.

Roa instructed the nephew of Gentiles, Eric, to hold the hind legs of the piglet as he prepared a disposable syringe.

The field technician diluted the anti-hog cholera vaccine powder with sterile fluid and mixed them thoroughly. He then pulled the plunger of the syringe and got two milliliters of the vaccine.

With Eric holding the pig, Roa deftly injected the animal. The piglet squealed as the vaccine flowed inside its body.

Roa then told Gentiles and Eric on how to properly dispose the syringe and the bottles of vaccine by burying them deeply to the ground.

"But it is better for you to burn them," Roa told Gentiles and Eric.

Prevention

Acac said vaccination is only effective if the pig is not yet infected with the virus.

He said once the pig is infected, there is no known cure for it.

Acac said hogs stricken with the virus lose their appetite, show signs of diarrhea and later, constipation, and red spots on the skin.

"It also causes fever, skin lesions, convulsions and usually (particularly in young animals) death within 15 days," he said.

Dr. Bemes Mondia, chief of the Department of Agriculture Regulatory Division in Northern Mindanao said the upsurge of the hog cholera virus can be attributed to the cold weather experienced in Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental in the past months.

"The cold climate triggered the virus to multiply and since it is endemic to the Philippines, the virus was ready to strike," says Mondia who made a study on the disease last year.

Mondia said the virus mostly affect backyard piggeries whose owners are largely ignorant of the importance of sanitation and where to go to inoculate their swine herds.

He said backyard piggery owners should practice standard biosecurity measures, such as cleaning and disinfecting clothing, equipment, and vehicles entering and leaving the farm.

Mondia said the pest virus could wipe out the swine population "in a matter of days."

"Once the virus hits a farm or piggery, "the mortality ranges from 40-80%. Chances of recovery of infected hogs are very low and the rest will succumb to death.? Mondia said.

Ran out

Acac said the City Veterinary Office have ran out of the anti-hog cholera vaccine because of the demands of the backyard piggery owners.

He said they have asked the owners to buy the vaccine as a last resort. Gentiles bought his vaccine at P150 per bottle at a local agricultural store in Cogon Market.

"Karon gaipapalit lang sa mga magpabakuna kay kadyot ra gyud nahurot among supplies," Acac said as he made a prescription pad to Grace Asoc, a housewife who lives in Tagpangi, this city.

The 41-year-old Asoc depend on pig raising to feed her family of six since her husband have no regular job.

Asoc said she would get the money from her savings--proceeds from her previous sales of the pigs she raised.

She said it will be a financial ruin for her and her family since they have already spent much money to feed the pigs.

"Mas maayo na lang mopalit kaysa mahurot kamatay akong mga baboy," Asoc said.

Asoc said she got worried when two of her hogs including her 50-kilo breeder pig started to lose their appetite a week ago.

Schooled by several seminars in pig raising, Asoc quickly isolated the two hogs from the rest of the herd.

Asoc said her suspicion was confirmed when she learned that the hogs of her neighbor also lost their apetitite and died.

She later heard in a radio program about the symptoms of hog cholera and noticed that her hogs were experiencing the same signs.

Asoc said she lost no time and went to the city Veterinary Office last Tuesday.

Ignorance

Asoc was lucky because she knew where to go. Others like Saling Sarmiento, a backyard raiser in Barangay 22, told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro she did not know what government office to go.

Sarmiento said her small pig that she bought for P1,500 two months ago have experienced some coughing. She wanted the pig to be innoculated as a precaution.

"Gusto unta nako matupukan ang akong baboy kay simbako maigo unya sa cholera gi-ubo ra ba pero wala ko kabalo asa magpa-injection," Sarmiento said.

She said she wanted to buy another pig for Christmas but put hold the plan because of the hog cholera putbreak.

Vilma Rivera, resident of Isla Delta in Barangay Consolacion, tended to her two sows and one piglet in her backyard and was very proud of their health.

But Rivera did not knew that there were was an ongoing outbreak of the pestivirus in Cagayan de Oro.

"Wa man ko kabalo asa muadto para anang bakuna," Rivera said as she feed her higs with food leftovers.

Veterinarans have warned that food leftovers can carry the virus to healthy herds.

The pestivirus was first reported in Magsaysay town in Misamis Oriental last July where it killed 60 pigs. The virus has since then spread to the cities of Gingoog and Cagayan de Oro and seven other towns in Misamis Oriental.

The City Veterinary Office in Cagayan de Oro last Wednesday declared an epidemic after the contagious virus killed more than 2,300 pigs.

[Shiloh]

Re: Phillipines: Hog Cholera (swine fever) outbreak

Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/re...ges-leyte-town

Suspected hog cholera hits four villages in Leyte town

By MELANIE L. BINGCO, ABS-CBN Tacloban | 11/20/2008 10:46 PM

TACLOBAN CITY ? The provincial veterinarian of Leyte has revealed that there have been about 20 pigs slaughtered in four villages in Burauen town due to suspected hog cholera.

Dr. Teofilo Mendoza however was quick to clarify that not all slaughtered pigs were afflicted with the cholera viral disease.

?Some villagers just feared their animals might have acquired the disease,? he said.

The authorities have already conducted vaccinations in Barangay Maabab, Tambis, Malaihao and Cagangon and have given antibiotics to sick animals.
They also took blood samples of the affected pigs to confirm if the animals are really hit by cholera. However Dr. Mendoza said he already saw clinical signs that the animals are infected with the virus.


?The pigs were experiencing high fever, lack of appetite, weakness, constipation or diarrhea, and nasal discharge and the meat of those slaughtered show hemorrhages. But we still have to confirm if this is really hog cholera through testing of the blood sample,? he said.

Since there had been a slaughter of pigs suspected to be infested of cholera, authorities would also observe the residents if they will show symptoms of infection due to the meat they consumed.

Based on the latest data of the provincial veterinary office, there are still six cases of suspected hog cholera in the villages that they are monitoring including a case of abortion of a pregnant sow.

Hog cholera or classical swine fever is endemic in the province hence the veterinarian advises hog raisers to subject their swine to periodic vaccination.

as of 11/20/2008 10:46 PM

[Shiloh]

Re: Phillipines: Hog Cholera (swine fever) outbreak

Source: http://www.bworldonline.com/BW120208/content.php?id=054

Vol. XXII, No. 92
Tuesday, December 2, 2008 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES
The Economy
Hog cholera outbreak hits Leyte village

BURAUEN, LEYTE ? Residents of a village here slaughtered in the last two weeks 20 pigs suspected of having hog cholera.

Provincial veterinarian Teofilo Mendoza said the affected community was Barangay Tambis, about five kilometers away from the town center.

"All the symptoms observed pointed to hog cholera. Some villagers were just worried that their animals might have the disease," he said.

Hogs stricken with the virus lose their appetite and suffer from severe body weakness, constipation or diarrhea, nasal discharge and display red spots on the skin.

Gerry Echon, a backyard hog raiser, said hog raisers slaughtered their animals as soon as they notice the symptoms.

Mr. Mendoza said they were monitoring six suspected hog cholera cases in the same village.

Last week, a team from the regional and provincial offices of the Department of Agriculture conducted a vaccination campaign in Bgy. Tambis and the nearby villages of Maabab, Malaihao, Cagangon. "Vaccinations were provided to about 100 pigs in four villages," said Mr. Mendoza.

Agriculture regional information officer Virginia Macanda said department officials discussed the situation with villagers last week. "Many people are not aware of what the disease is and how to manage such problems in their barangays. They?re supposed to bury infected animals instead of slaughtering and sharing the meat with the neighborhood," Ms. Macanda said. "Although hog cholera affects only pigs and has no detrimental effects on humans, it is still not ideal to eat the meat of infected animals."

Authorities advised swine raisers to check animals at least twice a week for unusual signs or behavior; make sure food waste is properly heated to destroy pathogens; isolate newly purchased hogs for at least 21 days; isolate sick pigs until the cause of illness is determined; fence property against wild pigs; and practice biosecurity measures like disinfecting clothing, equipment, and vehicles. ? S. Q. Meniano

[Shiloh]

Re: Phillipines: Hog Cholera (swine fever) outbreak

Source: http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/re...anga-pigs.html


Hog cholera, not Ebola, killed Zamboanga pigs
Written by Bong Garcia Jr. / Correspondent
Thursday, 26 March 2009 20:45

ZAMBOANGA CITY?Its official: the swine industry of this southern port city is free from the Ebola Reston virus.

Mayor Celso Lobregat declared so, citing that tests yielded negative of the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), Pseudo Rabies Virus (PRV) and Swine Influenza Virus (SIV-H1N1).

The test results that arrived this week were certified by the Philippine Animal Center of the Bureau of Animal Industry, which also conducted the tests on serum samples from dead swines sent by the Office of the City Veterinarian here.

The samples were taken from a dozen pigs that died early this month in barangay Vitali, 72 kilometers east of this city. The situation caused undue alarm that it was an outbreak of the Ebola Reston virus.

Lobregat disclosed that five of the eight samples sent tested positive for the Classical Swine Fever, or hog cholera, a highly contagious disease of pigs that usually results in the death of the animal 15 days after it is infected.

He enjoined hog raisers to practice health management and husbandry to prevent the spread of hog cholera that could have a very bad impact on the swine industry.

He told hog raisers to submit their pigs to regular vaccinations and deworming, and keep pigpens and its surroundings cool, dry and clean. He also asked them to feed pigs with unspoiled food and clean water, and report to the city veterinarian any health problem of their animals.

Similarly, the mayor warned hog raisers not to slaughter and sell sick swine and other livestock, as this may harm the consumers and expose them to diseases.