By Mary Judaline Partlow
DUMAGUETE CITY – The Department of Agriculture-Negros Island Region (DA-NIR) assured the public on Monday that “there is no cause for concern” over the possible presence of glanders in one of its three provinces of as the disease is curable.
DA-NIR Director Jose Albert Barrogo told the Philippine News Agency on Monday that they are awaiting laboratory test results from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) to confirm the perceived presence of glanders, a zoonotic disease caused by the bacteria Burkholderia mallei, in Siquijor province.
He said agriculture technicians collected blood samples from animals in at least three towns last week after reports of cases were reported.
“A team of technicians took blood samples from goats, horses and other animals in areas in Siquijor believed affected by glanders from May 20 to 23 and were sent immediately to RITM for lab testing,” Barrogo said.
Barrogo said until such time that RITM results are released, they cannot decide yet on the next steps in addressing the issue, such as the movement of animals from affected areas.
So far, he said there are no movement restrictions within the island or in areas outside Siquijor.
As far as glanders cases found in humans, he said it is the Department of Health that can confirm it.
Barrogo said a Negros Island-wide task force was also formed to look into an unverified report of at least six humans afflicted by glanders in Siquijor.
The bacteria that cause the disease enter the body through a scrape or cut on the skin, through the mucous membranes like the eyes and nose, or by inhaling.
According to experts, general 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. (PNA)
