IPVO monitors selling of ‘double-dead’ meat
The Iloilo Provincial Veterinary Office is initiating preventive measures to stop the possible selling of cattle and carabao meat affected by hemorrhagic septicemia.
Dr. Silvino Teodosio, head of IPVO, said there is no specific study of possible effects of hemorrhagic septicemia to humans, but still he advised the public against eating dead animal meat.
“There are no reports yet but we are talking here of possible effects to humans in the near future. We do not know what would be the extent of the effects of this bacteria once eaten”, he said.
Fourteen animal deaths, including nine carabaos and five cows, have been recorded by the IPVO in Leon town, particularly in the villages of Tacuyong Norte and Jamog Gines.
“It’s (bacteria) is deceptive. Hemorrhagic septicemia causes rapid deaths without any symptom,” he said.
Teodosio said Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor has directed him to coordinate with the 85 village chiefs of Leon to discuss the animal disease outbreak.
During his visit, he will inform the village chiefs that eating affected meat is not advisable and affected meat should not be brought to other areas, Teodosio said.
The IPVO is also monitoring neighboring villages such as Barangabang, Marirong, and Banagan for unreported cases.
Hemorrhagic septicemia is a highly fatal bacterial disease that can kill an animal within eight to 24 hours.
Teodosio said animal prone to these bacteria is mostly carabao which is oftentimes exposed to rains and sun heat. Once a carabao is stressed, its immune system decreases, the same with other animals such as cow and goat.
One factor that triggers the stress of carabaos is mosquito bites.
Teodosio said that with the onset of the rainy season, mosquitoes are everywhere.
In previous years, signs of the animals afflicted with hemorrhagic septicemia usually manifest dullness, then reluctance to move, fever, salivation, and serious discharge in nose and mouth.
This time, however, Teodosio said the bacteria is one of a kind considering its fatal affect to animals within 24 hours.
As a preventive measure, Teodosio advised animal owners to immediately report their sick animals to their Municipal Veterinary Office so that they will be given proper vaccination.
