HemoSep hits Bohol; situation under control says prov'l. vet

ONLY three months into 2006, yet 20 cows and carabaos in Bohol have been confirmed dead due to hemorrhagic septicemia (hemosep). Dr. Stella Marie Lapiz, provincial veterinarian, reported to Gov. Erico Aumentado that for January, February and March, the barangay livestock aides (Balas), livestock technicians (LTs) and municipal agricultural officers (MAOs) of 25 towns have reported a total of 549 suspected hemosep cases. As a result, Aumentado sought assistance from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) by way of providing vaccines and medicines to supplement the meager resources sourced out from the local government units. Although Lapiz said the situation is already under control, Aumentado indorsed to Dr. Davinio Catbagan, director of the BAI based in Quezon City the Lapiz report prepared by Dr. Meydallyn Dagandan, of the Animal Health Division of the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV).

The governor said while therapeutic measures, avoidance of stress and regulation of animal movement have been implemented to contain the problem, vaccination has not started as of Wednesday as the province and the concerned towns are still in the process of procuring vaccines and medicines. He urged the bureau to extend its usual support, as “this would make possible the immediate conduct of massive vaccination.”

The affected large cattle had manifested sudden fever, lack of appetite that developed into loss of appetite, profuse salivation, diarrhea but constipation in some cases, nasal discharges, bloating, staggering gait and reluctance to move as well as staring gaze. Lapiz said the predisposing factor to the bacterial disease is the causative agent Pasteurella multocida. The disease often hits livestock following extreme changes in temperature that causes stress in them, she explained.

The 529 cattle-survivors recovered after receiving immediate treatment with commercially prepared broad-spectrum antibiotics costing an average of P500 per animal. Other treatment given included the use of herbal medicines like tamarind and ginger. Mineral oil was prescribed to alleviate bloat. The reported deaths were from San Miguel, six; Alicia, five and Dagohoy, three. Sikatuna and Catigbian had two each while Antequera and Sierra Bullones had one each. Topping the list of morbid cases reported were103 from San Miguel with 97 recovered; 66 from Calape that all recovered; 65 from Alicia of which 60 recovered and 50 from Loon that all recovered.

Lapiz said she had called an emergency meeting of the LTs to assess the situation and prepare contingency plans. Vaccination is ongoing in 16 towns. Ring vaccination – or the immediate vaccination of all carabaos and cows surrounding the barangay or municipality where deaths or infection were reported will follow, she said. The vaccination schedule has been arranged, she assured. Following up on the governor's request addressed to BAI, she said 20,000 doses are expected to arrive tomorrow. The regional office is also sending vaccines and medicines tomorrow. The provincial government, she added, is procuring additional vaccines, drugs and vitamins that they will distribute starting tomorrow.

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