Philippine Agriculture Bureau Calls for Vigilance Among Livestock Farmers to Prevent Disease Outbreaks

Manila, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) is calling on livestock farmers to promptly report any signs of illness in animals, following the recent culling of 94 goats that tested positive for Q fever. The infected animals were part of a shipment from the United States and were located in secluded farms in Pampanga and Marinduque.

According to Philippines News Agency, officer-in-charge of the BAI National Veterinary Quarantine Services Division, the initiative to report symptoms is crucial for controlling the spread of diseases such as Q fever, a zoonotic illness that can transfer from animals to humans through direct contact or exposure to infected excretions. This plea was made during a broadcast interview with Radyo Pilipinas, where Dr. Daquigan urged farmers to collaborate closely with local agricultural offices.

The DA-BAI has implemented stricter border controls and heightened surveillance in response to this incident, especially concerning livestock imports from the US, where a temporary ban on goat imports is currently in effect. Dr. Daquigan reassured the public and the farming community that these measures are designed to prevent the spread of the disease into the broader community.

As of now, there have been no reported cases of Q fever among the livestock farmers in the affected areas of Marinduque and Pampanga, signaling the effectiveness of the current preventive strategies in place.