published January 28, 2009 in Leyte Samar Daily Express and BusinessWorld
TACLOBAN CITY — Hog mortality from salmonella infection rose in nine villages of Sta. Rita, Samar province.
Abraham Ibañez, agricultural technologist of Sta. Rita town, said residents of Sta. Rita are alarmed by the outbreak that has killed 296 pigs.
The 237 infected hogs have been treated with antibiotics and vitamins. Some 180 healthy animals were vaccinated by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the local government unit.
"We’ve been strict in implementing measures to stop the disease from spreading such as no slaughter of sick animals and movements of pigs in and out of the town," Mr. Ibañez said in an interview.
The first case was noted in the first week of December 2008 in Tominamos village. By Jan. 12, the disease has spread to the nearby villages of San Pascual, Dampigan, Bagolibas, Old Manunca, San Eduardo, Union, Santa Elena and Cabacungan.
"Our information has been intensified even during weekends to make sure that the infection will be stopped. We have to make people aware because most of the backyard raisers want to slaughter infected animals," Mr. Ibañez said.
Leo Cañeda, DA executive director for Eastern Visayas, said they have traced the infection to contaminated feeds.
Other factors were the heavy rains, poor waste disposal system of slaughtered animals and constant contact of animals with human beings, who are known as carriers of the salmonella bacteria. — Sarwell Q. Meniano
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