TABUK CITY, Kalinga — The City Veterinary Office (CVO) of Tabuk conducted an Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaign on African Swine Fever (ASF) and rabies for the residents of barangays Malalao and Agbannawag on Friday, March 22, 2024.
At least 40 hog raisers from both barangays attended the lecture given by the CVO veterinarians and staff.
The activity is part of the massive IEC campaign the veterinary office has been conducting since the city was declared under state of calamity for the ASF virus last year, where hundreds of hog raisers in different barangays were affected.
“We are still under red zone for the virus,” a CVO veterinarian said.
The veterinarian explained that in order to eliminate the virus and finally declare the city ASF-free, it needs the cooperation of all hog raisers to follow biosecurity measures and protocols.
CVO also urged the residents to immediately report cases of ASF to their office for a proper response. “The office will conduct depopulation to avoid further spread of the virus,” the veterinarian said.
While humans may not get sick of the virus, they can be carriers and transfer the virus to their hogs, so they must avoid getting in contact with infected pigs or eat its meat, she said.
Quarantine checkpoints were set up at the different entrances to the city, and a slaughterhouse was also put up where hog raisers could bring their pigs for meat inspection before butchering.
Meanwhile, in observance of anti-rabies month, CVO lectured the residents on containing the rabies virus, urging them to have their pets vaccinated every year.
The CVO said the virus is contagious and fatal, affecting the brain and causing symptoms like discomfort, fever, hydrophobia, and headache. They advised the residents to immediately get vaccinated when bitten by either a dog, cat, bat, or monkey, and the animal responsible must be encaged to be observed for 14 days. The animal is infected with the virus when it dies within 14 days, and the head must be cut and brought to the veterinary office for virus testing.
The veterinarian also cautioned that even the infected animal’s scratch and lick on an open wound can cause rabies infection.
She also warned that “tandok” will not remove the virus, so getting vaccinated against rabies is the most appropriate action to take.
The CVO also distributed disinfectants to the residents. By Rod Asurin
