Swine flu kills hogs, provincial vets tackle problem
LINGAYEN–A swine flu is spreading in some parts of the province, causing the death of hogs, mostly those raised in backyard farms, according to 5th district Board Member Danilo Uy.
Provincial veterinary officials have already taken specimens of afflicted animals and are now looking into the disease and ways of containing it.
Uy, himself a commercial hog raiser, said he had received reports from various barangay officials about the problem.
Big commercial hog raisers regularly disinfect their farms so their pigs have been spared by the disease while most affected are the backyard raisers, he said.
Dr. Benedicto Perez, provincial veterinarian, told The PUNCH he has mobilized his staff to gather sample specimens in affected barangays including Malawa, Basing, Dulag, Tumbar, Wawa, Lasip, Rosario and Malimpuec, all in Lingayen.
The samples, including those gathered in barangay Polong, Labrador, were submitted to the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Livestock (RADDL) in La Union for examination.
Perez said recent reports indicate that barangays in Binmaley, Labrador, Aguilar, and San Manuel towns are encountering the same problem.
He advised backyard farmers to apply supportive treatment by forced feeding or inject copyrine for anti-fever and vitamins as well.
“Vaccination alone will not do it,” he added.
Meanwhile, the provincial veterinarian’s office is intensifying its monitoring to ensure that afflicted hogs are not sold in the market.#
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