TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Gov. James Edduba has issued a temporary ban on the transport of live carabao and carabao meat products to the province to prevent the entry of anthrax.
The order was issued following reports of confirmed human and animal anthrax cases in Barangay Calassitan in Sto. Niño in nearby Cagayan.
Animal quarantine checkpoints are now on high alert for inspection of vehicles transporting animals to the province.
Based on the advisory released by the Department of Agriculture, Region 2 has four cases of buffalo anthrax, all in Sto. Niño.
The report also showed 73 persons who got exposed to products of slaughtered carabaos in the area displayed symptoms of human anthrax and are now isolated for treatment and observation.
The Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Region 2 characterized animals affected with anthrax to have loss in appetite, difficulty in moving or lethargy, presence of blood in urine, and may also cause sudden death.
Persons infected with the disease bear skin wounds, a Department of Health advisory states. Other symptoms of intestinal anthrax are vomiting, nausea, fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
The temporary ban will be lifted as soon as the source is cleared, the order stated. – Larry Lopez
