March 28, 2023

HFMD outbreak in Eastern Samar, Philippines, is human-related, will not affect livestock sector, says agriculture department

The Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) said last week that the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) outbreak in Eastern Samar, is human-related and will not affect the animal industry in the region.

In an advisory, the DA regional office said the agents that caused foot and mouth disease between humans and animals are of different and unrelated viruses.

"As such, there is no threat of transmission - humans cannot transmit the virus to animals, likewise, animals cannot transmit the disease to humans through consumption of meat and other products," the advisory said.

The DA regional office added the country had been declared FMD-free without vaccination since 2011. Thus, there is no cause for panic among livestock raisers in Eastern Visayas.

The field office issued the advisory days after the Department of Health declared a surge in HFMD cases in Eastern Samar and other parts of the region.

Borongan City, the capital of Eastern Samar province, earlier declared an outbreak. From January 1 to March 18, 2023, the city has already recorded 175 HFMD cases.

As of March 18, the entire region has posted 598 HFMD cases, remarkably higher than the 36 cases reported in the same period last year.

- Philippine News Agency