By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office (PHO) advised Negrenses yesterday to cook pork thoroughly amid the threat posed by hog cholera in the province.
PHO officer-in-charge Dr. Girlie Pinongan said residents should always observe clean food preparation, especially pork.
Although the virus that causes hog cholera is harmless to humans, Pinongan still advised Negrenses to cook meat properly to avoid diseases.
According to the World Health Organization, thorough cooking kills almost all dangerous microorganisms in food, especially meat, poultry, eggs, and seafood.
Cooking food to a temperature of 70 degrees Celsius can help ensure it is safe for consumption, it said.
Meanwhile, provincial administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz said yesterday morning, the Provincial Incident Management Team (PIMT), formed to contain the spread of hog cholera, is now operational.
The PIMT is headed by the Provincial Veterinary Office and the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist.
Diaz said municipal mayors in the province fully support PIMT and they have already assigned their representatives.
Law enforcement agencies such as the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade, the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) have coordinated with the PIMT by implementing border control points to prevent the movement of sick hogs in the province.
Aside from hog cholera, Diaz said they remained on heightened alert against the entry of pork products coming from areas affected by African swine fever (ASF).
The PCG has already deployed their specialized K-9 units in various ports in Negros Occidental to sniff out pork products which may be smuggled in by travelers.
Diaz said the entry of pork products into the province remains banned.
He added the provincial government has already created an ordinance which would penalize pork smugglers with fines and/or imprisonment.
He also warned repeat offenders that authorities will no longer tolerate them.
As of Tuesday, May 16, the province logged 2,421 hog deaths due to hog cholera, also known as “classical swine fever,” a highly contagious hog illness.
However, unlike ASF, there is an existing vaccine for hog cholera./DGB, WDJ