By JEN BAYLON
The Siquijor provincial government has assured residents and tourists that the province remains safe from glanders, a bacterial disease transmitted from sick animals, despite confirming six cases.
“There is no reason to be sad, worried or panic,” Siquijor Governor Jake Vincent Villa said in a Facebook post yesterday.
“The provincial government will ensure that all precautionary measures are in place, such as early detection, early action and cooperation with various agencies,” he added.
Six residents have tested positive for glanders and are now in stable condition after being treated in Negros Oriental’s Dumaguete City.
Villa emphasized that the situation is under control and that all affected individuals have already received appropriate medication and care.
“The provincial government, in cooperation with the Negros Island Region-One Health Task Force and the Department of Health, continues to monitor and maintain the health of the community,” Villa said in a statement.
Local health and veterinary officials have launched containment efforts, including animal tracing and testing, amid concerns that glanders could spread to nearby Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.
Blood samples are being analyzed, and culling may be considered if infections are confirmed among animals.
Regional and national resources have also been mobilized to support disease management and provide accurate information to the public.
Glanders is a contagious, zoonotic infectious disease caused by the bacterium Burkholderia mallei, primarily from horses, mules and donkeys but can also be contracted by dogs and cats, pigs, goats, and human beings.
The disease is caused by direct contact with sick animals.
It is not easily spread from person to person and can be treated with antibiotics if diagnosed immediately.
Basic hygiene and animal safety can help avoid infection.
Glanders symptoms in humans include fever, muscle aches, chest pain, headache, and sometimes pneumonia or skin ulcers.
The glanders bacteria could possibly enter the body through a cut in the skin, by inhaling, or through the mucous membranes like the eyes and nose.
Usual symptoms in humans that can vary with each infection are fever, shivers and sweats, chest pain, sore throat, headache, cough, muscle soreness and tightness, sensitivity to light, excessive mucous, tearing in the eyes, diarrhea, ulcers, and fatigue.
In animals, glanders can cause nodules and ulcerations in the respiratory tract, lungs, and skin (farcy).
Villa explained that glanders is a condition known in both veterinary and human medicine and that there are many effective ways to treat and prevent it, such as
* Avoiding contact with a sick animal. If you see an unusual animal disease, report it immediately to your barangay official
* Refraining from eating meat or milk from sick animals, even when cooked, and only getting it from trusted suppliers
* Consulting the nearest health center immediately if you have fever, cough or unusual symptoms
* Washing hands regularly, especially after outdoor activities or touching animals
Earlier, the Department of Agriculture in Negros Island Region said there is no cause for concern over the presence of glanders as the disease is curable. / With reports from PNA / JB, WDJ