July 27, 2007

 

Hog cholera hits major Philippine swine area

 

 

Pig farms in the province of Bulacan -- one of the major areas for Philippine hog farming -- have been hit by hog cholera and the province's local government has been closely monitoring eleven pig farms in Santa Maria town.

 

Bulacan Governor Jonathan Mendoza said they are helping backyard raisers who have reported infection in their farms in controlling and observing the development of the disease.

 

Classic swine fever or hog cholera, which usually attacks young swine, is manifested by skin hemorrhage, high fever, and exhaustion among infected animals.

 

Mendoza said the disease is not transmissible to humans but he strongly suggests to immediately slaughter infected animals to prevent the spread of the virus.

 

Davinio Catbagan, Bureau of Animal Industry director, gave consumers several pointers to determine if meat is free of the disease. He said buyers should look for the seal of the National Food Inspection Commission or the local government stamped on the meat they are buying.

 

He also said meat infected by such a disease releases a smell of urine or an antibiotic, adding that it "is pale in color and does not look fresh."

 

Pork suppliers in adjacent provinces of Pampanga and Nueva Ecija are also being monitored for possible infection in its animals.

 

Although admitting their business is suffering, market vendors in the town remain undeterred by the presence of the disease.

 

Provincial veterinarians, meanwhile, have installed checkpoints to prevent infected animals from leaving or entering the province.

 

Carriers of the hog cholera include personnel, vehicles, instruments, and even waste food given to pigs.

 

Hog cholera is classified as a List A disease as it poses a barrier to animal trade but is also highly infectious and spreads rapidly.

 

According to GMA News, the government in 2002 launched a program targeted at freeing the country from the disease by 2012.

 

The implementation phase, which included massive vaccinations, and monitoring of protected zones, started in 2003 and will end this year.