TUGUEGARAO CITY: The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVET) warned those buying meat against the anthrax disease in the province after 14 more buffaloes in four towns had died.
Four suspected anthrax carrier buffaloes had died in Santo Niño town, two of which were slaughtered and sold in Barangay Annafatan in Amulung town.
Reports also said that 73 people were exposed to the disease and 22 had skin lacerations also in Santo Niño town. Sixty more were exposed to the infected meat and showed symptoms.
Dr. Noli Buen, PVET chief, said his office is reminding everyone to be more alert and critical when buying meat and in slaughtering buffalo.
'No animal should be slaughtered, especially dead buffaloes,' Buen said, urging barangay officials to monitor dead animals in their respective barangay (villages) and to immediately report to meat inspectors or other concerned authorities when an animal dies, especially if these are buffaloes.
'All of us should be aware, especially the barangay officials, because anthrax is also a threat to humans. Backyard slaughtering is prohibited, so let's not slaughter any dying animals,' he added.
Buen also explained that the splash of blood from a slaughtered buffalo with anthrax is contagious to humans, so much more when it is eaten.
'People infected with the disease could die when not treated at its early stage,' he said, adding that the anthrax virus does not die even after disinfecting and even after the infected animal has long been buried.
'It is important that the place where the dead animals were buried be fenced and restricted so that they are not grazed, and unless the area was flooded or was buried by a landslide, the bacteria or the spore remains,' Buen said.
The PVET office said it will investigate the reported 14 buffaloes that died in the villages of Abariongan Ruar, Balagan and Cabayao in Santo Niño town; Liwan village in Enrile town; Logung and Calintaan villages in Amulung town, and Tamban village in Alcala town.
'Our meat inspectors are also monitoring each town, especially in villages that have been reportedly affected by anthrax. Let's all cooperate in this matter. Let's not slaughter dead animals,' Buen told buffalo raisers.