LINGAYEN– Strict sanitation regulations imposed on the local hog industry have kept the province free from foot and mouth disease (FMD) for four years now.

Dr. Eric Jose Perez, officer-in-charge of the Provincial Veterinarian Office (PVO), attributed the successful campaign to the provincial government’s efforts in consistently and strictly implementing the same measures over the years to prevent the disease from infecting local hogs.

These measures include massive ring vaccination of hogs and cattle, distribution of disinfectant called “soda ash” to various slaughterhouses, livestock markets and to private livestock owners, and a massive information campaign at the grassroots level.

At the same time, province-wide surveillance and installation of animal quarantine and checkpoints were also undertaken to prevent the movement of infected animals.

The strategy was disclosed in a recent Public Awareness Campaign on FMD conducted by the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Unit 1 (DA-RFU 1), National Foot and Mouth Disease Task Force and Bureau of Animal Industry at the Livestock Auction Market in Urdaneta City.

FMD, which usually occurs during rainy days, is an acute, highly communicable rhinovirus-caused disease that mainly infects cloven footed animals such as cow, carabao, sheep, goat and swine.

Meanwhile, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Danilo Uy, chairman of the committee on agriculture, urged all livestock owners to join the government in increasing its vigilance against the dreaded animal disease.

He said the increased productivity of the local livestock industry is one of the priority programs of the current administration. #

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