CAGAYAN -- The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVET) here has confirmed the presence of a case of anthrax in Sto. Niño.
According to Dr. Myka Ponce, Veterinarian II of PVET, the carabaos tested positive for anthrax disease which may have been the cause of death of four carabaos in Barangay Calassitan, Sto. Niño.
The PVET in coordination with the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist of Sto. Niño, Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and Animal Health and Welfare Unit of the Regulatory Division of Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health (DOH) Regional Office 02 conducted an investigation on reported anthrax.
Dr. Ponce said the four carabaos that died showed symptoms of anthrax such as sudden death, lack of appetite, difficulty in moving and the presence of blood in the urine.
The results of the test came out in the past few days where four were confirmed to be infected with anthrax.
Two were slaughtered and sold by the owners and some reportedly reached Barangay Annafatan, Amulung.
Dr. Ponce said there are 73 people in Brgy. Calassitan, Sto. Niño who were exposed and 22 had skin wounds and needed to go to isolation for thorough observation.
Meanwhile, about 60 people were exposed to the infected meat in Brgy. Annafatan, Amulung.
But the individuals did not show symptoms of the disease.
Dr. Ponce said that anthrax is a dangerous disease caused by a type of bacteria that develops from a spore called ‘bacillus anthracis.’
"Anthrax can affect ruminants such as buffalo, cattle, goats, sheep, horses, pigs, dogs, cats and other wild herbivores,” said Ponce.
Other signs of this disease in animals are fever, seizures, heart disease, bleeding and postmortem lesions, added Ponce.