In the province of Leyte, DA said there had been reports of sick hogs in the city of Tacloban as well as in towns of Babatngon, Jaro, Alang-alang, Sta. Fe, Palo, Pastrana, Dagami, Buraeun, Tabontabon, La Paz, Mayorga, Abuyog and Dulag.

In the province of Southern Leyte, the disease was also noted in some hogs in the town of Sogod while in Samar it was observed in Catbalogan City, Daram and Sta. Rita.

In the province of Northern Samar, there were 16 cases of sick hogs reported as of Monday in five villages in Lope de Vega town while 20 were reported in Catarman.

Clinical signs of the sick hogs reportedly included loss of appetite, weakness, presence of nasal discharge and fever, reports ABS-CBN News.

Authorities have not yet established the nature of the disease observed in the sick hogs but they suspect it to be a viral infection.

“Hog cholera is endemic in the region. But it could also be viral flu or other types of viral infection,“ said Dr. Leo Mira of the Animal Quarantine Division of DA.

Mira further stressed that they have yet to confirm their suspicion through the result of laboratory tests of blood, urine and fecal samples of the sick animals.

He also clarified that the disease should not cause alarm to humans as it is only confined to the animals. Treatment was also given to the sick animals and he said most of them have responded.

DA has earlier declared the salmonellosis cases in hogs in Sta. Rita town in Samar province under control. As of Tuesday last week, there were 772 sick hogs and 84 deaths and as of now DA said no incidence of morbidity was noted in the town.

Meanwhile, suspected hemorrhagic septicemia or “hemosep“ in carabaos was also reported in Calbiga town in Samar but DA said it still has to get the formal report from the town officials including the number of affected animals.