Hog disease spreads in Bulacan

ANGELES CITY — The strange disease killing piglets in Bulacan is believed to be the highly contagious and fatal "porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED)" which is spreading to hog farms in more towns in the province.

Dr. Felipe Bartolome, acting provincial veterinarian, told The STAR that tests using a special equipment provided by a local veterinary supplier confirmed that PED caused the deaths of several piglets in a number of hog farms in Bulacan.

The disease was initially reported in several medium-sized hog farms in the towns of Pandi, Sta. Maria and Marilao.

But Bartolome said it has already spread to other hog farms in San Jose, Baliuag, and Pulilan towns.

While more "confirmatory tests" have to be conducted, Bartolome said it is probable that PED is indeed the disease that killed the piglets.

"It is highly contagious and fatal and there is no known cure for it. As far as I know, this is the first time that PED has been reported in our country," he said.

He added that there is no clue as to what causes the disease.

Earlier, Dr. Jose Carillo, chief of the provincial veterinary disease prevention and regulatory division, said at least five medium-sized hog farms have been completely quarantined.

Bartolome said the only way to prevent the spread of PED is by killing infected piglets and enforcing strict quarantine measures in hog farms.

Carillo said newly born piglets seem to be more susceptible to PED up to the weaning period or about 30 to 40 days after birth.