City veterinarians warn of killer virus from goats

Saturday, March 28, 2009

GENERAL SANTOS CITY: City officials expressed apprehension over the spread of a virus in locally bred goats that could possibly infect local residents. The City Veterinary Office has directed port authorities to quarantine all imported goats for blood testing following information that the virus came from imported goats from the United States. In a regular city council meeting Thursday, Councilor Minardo Avila said animals that were exposed to goats that died due to encephalitis should undergo blood testing and those that are found infected must immediately be burned, he said. Experts said capri encephalitis is a viral infection among goats, which can cause encephalitis in its kids and chronic joint disease among adults. City Veterinarian Dr. Antonio Marin said an extensive information campaign has been conducted in villages adjacent to goat farms that were found infected. “We found that one huge goat farm in the locality was already infected and this should alarm our local goat raisers,” Marin told reporters. The most direct infection route is from mother to kid through infected colostrum, body fluids, and milk. Marin also sternly advised the public not to eat any animal suspected of having the disease, as he directed veterinarian personnel posted at the Makar Port to check all incoming imported goats. Martin clarified that only big goat farms have been reported with infected goats and not small backyard breeders.