Hog disease strikes Bulacan swine farm anew

MALOLOS CITY – Bulacan has barely recovered from swine flu and hog cholera incidents last year, and here, the disease have reappeared including the porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED).

Dr. Felipe Bartolome, head of the Bulacan Provincial Veterinary Office told The STAR that PED have affected commercial hog farms in the towns of Marilao, Sta. Maria, Pandi and the City of San Jose Del Monte.

However, he said that the impact have been minimal saying that only 30 percent of a farm swine population has been affected aside from the fact the incidents were sporadic.

“There is nothing to fear,” Bartolome said in Filipino noting that PED is a common swine disease along with hog cholera, swine flu and porcine reproductive respiratory syndrome.

Bartolome said that PED, as an endemic disease has been recurring through the year, but hinted it could be weather-induced like hog cholera and swine flu due to the recent sudden change of weather.

“Mainit kasi, tapos biglang umuulan, kahit tao nagkakasakit kapag ganyan, baboy pa kaya,” Bartolome said.

The same was echoed by backyard hog raisers in the province like brothers Cesar and Boy Del Rosario of Ba­rangay Santor here.