Albay Provincial Capitol in Legazpi City (PNA photo by Connie Calipay)
LEGAZPI CITY – The Albay provincial government, through its Veterinary Office, has strengthened border control by prohibiting the entry of ruminant animals due to reported cases of Q fever in some Luzon provinces.
In an interview on Wednesday, Dr. Pancho Mella, Veterinary Office chief, said the strict enforcement of border control is based on an executive order of Governor Edcel Greco Lagman released on Tuesday.
"Our established border controls, all interprovincial borders, conduct checkpoints to ensure all animals that enter Albay are properly documented. We will check the papers and documents of all animals entering the province. We will see to it that they have the needed requirements, like the shipping permit and veterinary health certificate," Mella said.
He said ruminants like cattle, sheep, and goats from Luzon provinces, particularly Pampanga and Marinduque, are not allowed to enter Albay, following the detection of first-ever cases of Q fever in these areas.
Small ruminants imported from the United States in the said provinces showed clinical signs indicative of the disease and tested positive, as confirmed by the Department of Agriculture on June 21.
"We are taking preventive and control measures to ensure that Q fever will not enter our province. We have coordinated with the Department of Agriculture on this move. As a precautionary measure, we are implementing this to ensure that no ruminant animals from the two provinces will pass the border," he said.
He added that confiscation or return to origin of all shipments containing ruminant animals should also be imposed.
Mella said they will continue to monitor and coordinate with concerned agencies to ensure the health and safety of its people, animals, and community.
Under his executive order, the governor directed to adopt and enforce measures that will effectively prevent the introduction and spread of zoonotic diseases in the province.
Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetti, which primarily affects ruminant animals and can be transmitted to humans through inhalation of contaminated air, direct contact with infected animals, or consumption of contaminated animal products.
In ruminants, the main clinical signs of Q Fever are reproductive disorders including abortion, infertility and stillbirth. (PNA)
