Maasin
City (March 7) --- Over a hundred
hogs were reported dead in two consecutive
weeks now throughout the province, however,
in Maasin City, City Agriculturist Amado
Acasio ruled out Ebola Reston virus as
the cause of deaths so far as some weakened
hogs still respond to medications.
Together
with Dr. Rey Alinsub of the Office of
the Provincial Veterinarian who also revealed
that their office also received reports
of unusual deaths of some backyard grown
hogs that were reported in the municipalities
of Sogod and Bontoc during the interview
over DyDM radio station here yesterday.
Acasio
surmised that more deaths must have taken
place since some weakened hogs were immediately
slaughtered in the barangays and were
not included among the reported deaths
reaching their office. The reported deaths
were in the following barangays: Sta.
Cruz- 15; Cagnituan-11, Tam-is -7, Combado-
11, Manhilo- 3 and Tomoy-tomoy –
70.
The
City Agriculturist could not confirm as
to the presence of Ebola Reston virus
as the cause of the fatalities so far
since those weakened hogs that were immediately
reported in their office were given medications
and have recovered. He was worried about
those dying hogs that were slaughtered
and the meat being sold for public consumption
especially in the remote barangays.
As
their preventive measures, Acasio have
undertaken massive information campaign
urging farmers to report to their office
should they detect unusual movements of
their hogs and further informed the public
that there are medicines available. By
doing so, they would be able to contain
the disease and the virus could also be
determined, he added.
Meanwhile, Dr. Alinsub reported that their
office has taken blood samples of dying
hogs and were already sent to the veterinary
regional office based in Tacloban City
for laboratory tests in Manila. In some
cases, some weakened hogs were not taken
blood samples thus no information could
be gathered as to the cause of the unusual
disease that might have caused the deaths
of the hogs. (PIA Southern Leyte/esg)
