Syringes used to kill hogs in ASF areas left unattended

Amid outbreaks of the african swine fever (ASF) in Quezon City, two children in Barangay Bagong Silangan were caught playing with syringes that have been used to administer lethal injection to hogs infected with ASF.

"Apat na piraso yon, pinaglalaruan nila... Sinusubo po nung maliit," the mother of the children said, in a report by Tina Panganiban-Perez on 24 Oras,

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said that this was against protocol.

"This is contrary to the protocols for medical waste disposal. Apparently how it is done is when the needles have been fully utilized, they are placed inside pet bottles and sealed, then thrown inside the burial site as well," Belmonte said.

"Yung risks lang po is if someone uses the used needle. No risk of ASF transfer to humans but all needles have bacteria," she added.

According to Belmote, Quezon City Veterinarian had already lectured her employees on proper medical waste management.

Aside from used syringes and gloves, infected pigs were also not properly disposed.

Buried pigs in the Tumana in Bagong Silangan resurfaced after a strong rain on September 17.

According to residents living near the grave site, the area is easily flooded, causing the dirt used to bury the hogs to wash away.

"Pagka umuulan, sumisingaw po yung amoy ng baboy. Sobra po talaga yung sakit ng ulo ko. Naoperahan na po ako twice sa sinusitis. So lahat po ng naaamoy ko, parang nalalasahan ko na," a resident complained.

Belmonte admitted that used to bury infected pigs in pits that were not as deep.

"Pero after this, gumawa sila ng protocol na bawat grave 12 feet deep and fully disinfected. Haulers are also supplied with disinfectant to fully disinfect after each cycle," Belmonte said.

Belmonte mobilized the Quezon City Solid Waste Management Task Force and officials of Barangay Bagong Silangan to take care of the problem.

"Wala pong problema kung maglibing sila dito basta ayusin lang nila at takpan nila nang mabuti. Kung kinakailangan sementuhin nila para hindi sumingaw yung ano pagka umulan, gawin nila," a resident said.

The rain had also destroyed the livelihood of the residents.

According to a resident, the local government of Bagong Silangan had given them P500 as compensation for the ruined crops.

GMA News sought comment from the barangay officials but did not get any. —NB, GMA News