WINFIELD, W.Va. - Five pigs still on the loose after a livestock truck overturned earlier this month in Putnam County may pose a health risk to residents who attempt to eat the animals.

The pigs were given large doses of antibiotics to ward off sickness during their long haul across the county, Frank Chapman, the county's emergency services director, told county commissioners Tuesday.

Residents who find the pigs should contact the county Office of Emergency Services, Chapman said after Tuesday's meeting.

But if they don't do that, they should wait at least 30 days or make sure the pigs are tested for antibiotics and other drugs before they are slaughtered, he said.

The company that owns the pigs contacted OES about the possible health risk, Chapman said. He did not know exactly what drugs the pigs had been given.

"If they've been dosed recently, there could be a health risk," he said. "We were just told by the company that they had been medicated."

During long hauls, animals are usually given large doses of penicillin or other antibiotics, such as Terramycin, to ward off shipping fever and other sickness, Chapman said.

The pigs in question were being hauled from North Carolina to Iowa when the tractor-trailer ran off W.Va. 34 on Oct. 15.

About 13 pigs were loose following the accident, Chapman said. County authorities were able to round up all but five, he said.

No one was injured in the accident, but about eight pigs were killed. The accident happened about a mile south of W.Va. 817, the former U.S. 35. The surviving pigs were loaded onto other trucks and transported to their intended destination. 

Reach Veronica Nett

at veroni...@wvgazette.com

 or 348-5113.

WINFIELD, W.Va. - Five pigs still on the loose after a livestock truck overturned earlier this month in Putnam County may pose a health risk to residents who attempt to eat the animals.

The pigs were given large doses of antibiotics to ward off sickness during their long haul across the county, Frank Chapman, the county's emergency services director, told county commissioners Tuesday.

Residents who find the pigs should contact the county Office of Emergency Services, Chapman said after Tuesday's meeting.

But if they don't do that, they should wait at least 30 days or make sure the pigs are tested for antibiotics and other drugs before they are slaughtered, he said.

The company that owns the pigs contacted OES about the possible health risk, Chapman said. He did not know exactly what drugs the pigs had been given.

"If they've been dosed recently, there could be a health risk," he said. "We were just told by the company that they had been medicated."

During long hauls, animals are usually given large doses of penicillin or other antibiotics, such as Terramycin, to ward off shipping fever and other sickness, Chapman said.

The pigs in question were being hauled from North Carolina to Iowa when the tractor-trailer ran off W.Va. 34 on Oct. 15.

About 13 pigs were loose following the accident, Chapman said. County authorities were able to round up all but five, he said.

No one was injured in the accident, but about eight pigs were killed. The accident happened about a mile south of W.Va. 817, the former U.S. 35. The surviving pigs were loaded onto other trucks and transported to their intended destination. 

Reach Veronica Nett

at veroni...@wvgazette.com

 or 348-5113.