Prov’l vet tightens watch on meat from Luzon

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) is closely monitoring the arrival of meat cuts from Luzon to ensure that these are not sourced from pigs infected with a viral disease.

Provincial Veterinarian Mary Rose Vincoy reported that “porcine epidemic diarrhea” (PED) virus has been a major problem in livestock industry in Luzon because it infests swine of all ages.

PED is a viral infection that only affects pigs and causes diarrhea and vomiting, even mortality in pre-weaned pigs.

Vincoy said her office is coordinating with concerned agencies to implement strict quarantine measures over port areas in Cebu to prevent the entry and proliferation of infected pigs’ meat in Cebu, considering that the province is a transshipment point for meat products.

“Tanang pagkaong karne ari gyod diri sa ato. Ang Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna magpadala diri sa ato og meat kay mas daghan man sila’g supply,” she told reporters during a press briefing yesterday.

She added that products found by quarantine officers to be unsafe for consumption are burned.

She made it clear though that there has been no reported case of PED in Cebu.

“Manguros ta nga di na moabot diri,” she said.

The province’s veterinary office could not provide yet the volume of meat cuts coming from Luzon as of press time, since the data is with National Meat Inspection Service of the Department of Agriculture-7.

The PVO, however, reported bacterial respiratory infections, such as infectious coryza, that has affected poultry products during the dry season, particularly in the months of April and May.

Infectious coryza is characterized by swelling around chicken’s face and wattles, putrid smelling discharge from ocular and nasal, sneezing and lack of appetite.

Further, Vincoy discouraged poultry and livestock owners from consuming animals that have succumbed to viral and bacterial infections.

“Kung mamatay, kinahanglan ilubong gyod,” she reminded. — (FREEMAN)