Bacolod City – Describing the 6,300 percent increase of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease cases in Negros Occidental as “alarming,” Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said he is most likely to support the recommendation of the Provincial Health Office to declare an HMFD outbreak in the province.
The PHO recommended the declaration of HFMD outbreaks in several local government units in the province that have reached the criteria for an epidemic.
Since the PHO are in a better position to advise the declaration of an outbreak, I will have to follow their judgement, Lacson said.
PHO recorded 320 HFMD cases from January to February 4 this year, compared to five in the same period of 2022, registering an increase of 6,300 percent.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ernell Tumimbang noted that the increase of HFMD cases indicates it could be easily transmitted now that there are face-to-face interactions, especially among children in school.
HFMD is common among young children under five years old, although anyone could still get infected. Although it is highly contagious, the illness is however, not serious.
Lacson said the declaration of HMFD outbreak is just really so all City and Municipal Health Offices will exert more effort to inform their respective constituents about the disease, which is contagious.
He also stressed the need to alert the Department of Education in Negros Occidental, since it is mostly young children that are affected.
HMFD symptoms include fever, painful sores in the mouth and a rash with blisters on hands, feet and buttocks. However, severe symptoms such as meningitis, encephalitis and polio may occur, PHO said.
In the fifth morbidity week this year alone, Negros Occidental has logged 85 new cases.
As to when the outbreak will be declared, Lacson said he will consult first with the PHO, since he has yet to officially receive a request from them.
The PHO report further indicated that Kabankalan City has the highest number of HFMD cases with 73, compared to zero cases last year.
Other LGUs with double digit HMFD cases, include Cauayan – 41, Cadiz City – 36, Bago City – 26, Manapla – 24, Valladolid – 18, Sipalay – 16, Binalbagan and Sipalay – 15 each, Talisay City – 14, and 11 in Hinobaan.
Meanwhile, Lacson said he respects the sentiments of Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, in connection with the latter’s disappointment in the burning of 240,000 table eggs that were seized due to fake documentation, he said that they are “very serious” in their campaign against the entry of Bird Flu and African Swine Fever (ASF) in the province.
Anything that will threaten our livelihoods, especially livestock, whether pork or chicken, we will continue to protect, Lacson stressed.
The 240,000 table eggs seized by quarantine personnel at the BREDCO Port in Bacolod City, after the shippers presented fake documents, were destroyed as part of the precautionary measures of the provincial government of Negros Occidental, and highly urbanized Bacolod City, in the fight against Avian Influenza, commonly known as Bird Flu.
Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, the president of the Association of Chief Executives – Negros Occidental, admitted being dismayed by the burning of the seized eggs, which had a market value of P1.4 million. He said it “can still be eaten by humans” and “should be donated to those who are in need of food.”
Once the origin is questionable, we can’t take any chances, Lacson said.
Negros Occidental has imposed a total ban on the entry of live birds and poultry products, such as meat and eggs, from areas affected by the highly pathogenic avian influenza or bird flu, which includes Panay and Guimaras, as well Luzon and Mindanao.
On Monday, the Bulacan provincial veterinarian confirmed a bird flu outbreak at a poultry layer farm in Sta. Maria town, where at least 17,000 chickens were culled to prevent the spread of the disease.
Benitez said he wants a review of the policies on food items seized by government, especially in Negros Occidental.
Negros Occidental is one of the top livestock provinces nationwide, with a P4 billion livestock industry, aside from being a top backyard hog producer, with P6-billion hog industry.
The province has banned the entry of live pigs and pork related products from Panay, Guimaras and other areas of the country where African Swine Fever cases have been monitored by the Department of Agriculture.
The Bacolod City Veterinary Office also stood its ground with regard to the destruction of the confiscated table eggs. Lacson said “we are in cooperation with Bacolod City, who agreed to join us, in the fight against Avian Flu and ASF.”
It became the responsibility of Bacolod City government to handle those eggs that were supposed to go to Iloilo, he added. (Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star (TVDS), photo courtesy of TVDS)