DA urges livestock farmers to report sick animals to prevent outbreaks

MANILA – The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) on Wednesday urged livestock farmers to report sick animals to prevent outbreaks in the country.

This came after the DA-BAI depopulated 94 imported goats from the United States in "secluded" farms in Pampanga and Marinduque, after testing positive for the country's first logged cases of Q fever.

Q fever is a zoonotic disease that may be transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals or their excreta or body fluids.

"Mag-report tayo kapag may kahina-hinalang nangyayari sa ating mga alaga, dahil diyan makatutulong tayong ma-prevent ang sakit sa ating bansa (We should report suspicious developments in our livestock because through it, we can help prevent the spread of diseases in the country)," BAI National Veterinary Quarantine Services Division officer-in-charge Dr. Christian Daquigan said in an interview aired over Radyo Pilipinas.

Daquigan said local livestock farmers may directly coordinate with the DA's municipal offices if any symptoms are observed in their animals, whether or not it is related to Q fever.

"Kapag nakakita tayo ng sakit sa ating mga alaga, huwag nating itago. Huwag tayong matakot na sumangguni sa ating mga (If we detect sickness in our livestock, we should not hide it. We should not be afraid of consulting our) local veterinarian, provincial vet," he said.

Meanwhile, Daquigan assured more stringent border measures and wider surveillance in Pampanga and Marinduque.

"Mas pinaigting po natin iyong ating border control, lalo po iyong padating na kambing galing sa US po, may temporary banning na po tayo ng mga kambing na manggagaling sa US (We have intensified our border control, especially on goats coming from the US, we already have a temporary ban on goats from the US)," he said.

To date, there were no reports of livestock farmers in affected farms in Marinduque and Pampanga being infected by Q fever. (PNA)