Unknown hog disease detected in Philippine region

Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) said it has noted sporadic cases of a hog disease in 18 towns and two cities in Eastern Visayas and is already investigating its cause.

In the province of Leyte, DA said there had been reports of sick hogs in the city of Tacloban as well as in towns of Babatngon, Jaro, Alang-alang, Sta. Fe, Palo, Pastrana, Dagami, Buraeun, Tabontabon, La Paz, Mayorga, Abuyog and Dulag.

In the province of Southern Leyte, the disease was also noted in some hogs in the town of Sogod while in Samar it was observed in Catbalogan City, Daram and Sta. Rita.

In the province of Northern Samar, there were 16 cases of sick hogs reported as of Monday (Feb 9) in five villages in Lope de Vega town while 20 were reported in Catarman.

According to local media, clinical signs of the sick hogs reportedly included loss of appetite, weakness, presence of nasal discharge and fever.

Authorities have not yet established the nature of the disease observed in the sick hogs but they suspect it to be a viral infection.

Leo Mira of the Animal Quarantine Division of DA stressed that they have yet to confirm their suspicion through the result of laboratory tests of blood, urine and fecal samples of the sick animals.

Mira also clarified that the disease should not cause alarm to humans as it is only confined to the animals and treatment was given to the sick animals.

DA has earlier declared the salmonellosis cases in hogs in Samar province under control.