(Philippines)Animal disease spreads in NorthCot

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http://www.mindanews.com/2004/07/14nws-surra.html

 

Animal disease spreads in NorthCot

By Williamor A. Magbanua / MindaNews / 14 July 2004

 

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- The provincial veterinarian’s office

of North Cotabato has urged Gov. Emmanuel F. Piñol to

put the whole province under a state of calamity due

to the spread of an infectious blood disease that

affects farm animals.

 

The disease, called surra, has reportedly already

spread 12 towns in the province, including this

capital city.

 

Based on reports gathered by the veterinarian’s

office, 135 farm animals have died in these areas

since last year.

 

Dr. Enrico Garzon, the provincial veterinarian, told

MindaNews that last month, 16 carabaos and 19 horses

died suddenly in Makilala town apparently due to surra

disease.

 

" The death of their working animals is a great loss.

This will affect the socio-economic condition of the

farmers in the area who depend solely on agriculture, "

Garzon said.

 

The provincial government, the office of the

provincial veterinarian and the college of medicine of

the University of Southern Mindanao in Kabacan, North

Cotabato have conducted random blood sampling in the

12 affected towns where surra disease was observed.

 

The team collected and tested 1,430 blood samples of

which 32 percent tested positive.

 

The diagnosis urged the office of the provincial

veterinarian to conduct massive information

dissemination and consultations with the town mayors.

This resulted to the provision of funds to control the

disease, with the provincial and the municipal

governments sharing 50-50.

 

So far, a total of 5,251 heads of large animals from

the 12 surra infested towns have been treated. The

veterinarian’s office also conducted deworming

activities and the giving of free vitamins.

 

Garzon said his office will seek assistance from the

Department of Agriculture to help in their campaign

against surra disease in North Cotabato.

 

Piñol has already earmarked P2 million for the

purchase of medicines to combat surra infestation.