News: Meat inspectors in EV urged to be vigilant on salmonella in pigs

TACLOBAN CITY – Due to the recent salmonella infections initially found at Sta. Rita town in Samar province, the National Meat Inspection Services (NMIS) said it will be implementing measures to help solve the problem.

NMIS, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA), said it also received reports that aside from Sta.Rita, there were salmonella-affected pigs in other towns like in Daram and Calbalogan City in Samar; Abuyog, Burauen, Carigara, Dulag, Dagami in Leyte; and even Tacloban City.

These cases have yet to be confirmed however, NMIS supervising officer Dr. Claro Dennis Morante said.

He said that NMIS is also coordinating with the Regional Animal Disease Laboratory for results of the study they are conducting on the reports.

All health inspectors were advised to become vigilant and must see to it that post-abattoir inspections on slaughtered pigs are observed, said Morante.

Morante also said that meat inspectors in the region were ordered to report immediately any occurrence of the bacteria in their areas.

The NMIS has also strictly prohibited clandestine slaughtering of hogs outside abattoirs, he said.

“Checkpoints particularly in Sta. Rita are being put up to control the movements of those animals,” Morante added.

The agency recommended the isolation of pigs showing symptoms of the disease, such as loss of appetite, dehydration, diarrhea ,general weakening and high fever, septicemia, abortion or even deaths.

"It is not also advisable to kill pigs which are sick, these can still be treated," Morante added.

Information drives in the different municipalities were also conducted by local government units and DA as part of the measures to control the spread of the salmonella infection, including vaccination of pigs in affected areas.

The public also were advised to buy meat at the market to make sure the safety of the meat, Morante said.

On the actual count of DA, there were already 84 deaths of pigs while 676 others were infected. Reported mortalities numbered 300 including those that were slaughtered as of 02/03/2009 1:25 AM

* This has a huge impact for the businessmans and local household who's engaged in pig livestock in the affected places. Probably all their investment would be gone. I hope that the virus would not spread out so that it would not affect the livestock of the other town. Of course pigs are essential because it's one of our basic food commodity. *