Deadly goat, sheep virus threatens PH

The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) is urging goat and sheep raisers to strengthen their biosecurity measures following the detection of a highly contagious disease that could wipe out the majority of an affected herd.

- By DEXTER BARRO II

In a public advisory, BAI warned the local sheep and goat industry that peste des petits ruminants (PPR) has recently been detected in neighboring Southeast Asian countries.

“The Philippines remains free from PPR, but the presence of the disease in the region increases the risk of introduction through illegal movement of animals, unsafe trade practices, and contaminated equipment or materials,” the bureau said.

PPR is a highly contagious viral disease, caused by a morbillivirus, that affects small ruminants such as goats and sheep.