ILOILO CITY (PIA) — Western Visayas has reported no cases of “Q fever” which affects domestic ruminants and could cause public health importance as it affects humans, as of this writing.
This is according to the recent statement issued by the Department of Agriculture-Western Visayas (DA-WV).
Currently, the DA is already strengthening its animal border protocols and is in close coordination with the local government units and personnel of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) to ensure that the ruminant industry is protected.
“This is a very serious matter. We will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the health of Filipinos is not compromised. It is imperative that we act immediately and decisively to eradicate this disease that poses serious threats to both animals and humans,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr.
The DA also encourages all stakeholders to be vigilant and practice strict biosecurity measures in their respective farms, and report any unusual death or abortions that may occur to their animals to their respective provincial/ city veterinary offices or municipal agriculture offices for proper assessment, diagnosis, and control.
The Regional Animal Diseases Diagnostic Laboratory (RADDL) of DA, in this part of the country, signified its readiness to accept samples to diagnose animal diseases including parasitism such as haemonchosis and fascioliasis; Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE); pneumonia usually due to weather changes; and diarrhea and bloat due to food intake of the animal.
The Department also assures that they are on full alert and ready to take all necessary measures to maintain their status as a Q fever-free region.
To note, Region 6 contributed 9.66 percent or ranked 4th to the national inventory of goats with 376,312 heads.
Further, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) shows that Western Visayas has produced 1,483.42 metric tons for the first quarter of 2024, contributing to 10.36 percent in terms of goat production nationwide.
Recently, the BAI depopulated more than five dozen goats imported from the U.S. following the detection of Q fever among some of the animals at a government breeding station in Marinduque and Pampanga.
With this, Laurel has ordered the immediate condemnation of all infected goats and animals exposed to the infected ruminants; the tracing of potentially infected animals; and a temporary ban on the importation of goats from the U.S.
He also directed the preventive suspension of certain BAI personnel pending investigation, a review of BAI’s quarantine and disease control protocols, and potential blacklisting of the importer of the infected goats. (AAL/AGP/PIA 6)
