At least 300 soldiers sent in to assist in the culling of chicken, quail and ducks in Pampanga
Published: 14:23 August 17, 2017
Manila: Authorities have banned cockfighting for two weeks in the central Philippine province of Luzon, where 37,000 birds have been killed by the avian flu virus on 36 farms since May.
“All cockfighting stadiums were ordered closed in five villages in three towns of Mexico, San Luis and Santa Ana — which were identified within a seven-kilometre quarantine zone in Pampanga,” Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol told Gulf News.
“H5 avian influenza initially hit farms only in San Carlos and Sta Rita villages of San Luis town, a ground zero located within one-kilometre quarantine zone of Pampanga,” he added.
The move was necessary to stop the spread of H5 virus in central and northern Luzon, Piñol said on Thursday.
He noted that Filipinos are avid cockfighting bettors.
“The agriculture department has also asked the Philippine army to assist in culling 600,000 birds within Pampanga’s seven-kilometre controlled area, higher than the estimated 200,000 birds found in ground zero,” said Piñol, adding, “It’s a no mean job.”
“Some 36 farms owners within the seven-kilometre quarantine zone have surrendered their fowls for depopulation process. At the same time, some owners whose farms are a kilometre outside of the seven-kilometre controlled area have also offered their farms for depopulation process to stop the spread of bird flu. I view this as a patriotic act,” said Piñol.
Explaining the strategy, Piñol said, “Once we have depopulated birds within the seven kilometre controlled area, that means the periphery areas are clean, chances of the virus spreading will be reduced. That would serve as a buffer zone from our ground zero.”
He promised to ask President Rodrigo Duterte to release P52.8 million (Dh4.48 million) to compensate affected farm owners.
Brigadier General Rodel Mairo Alarcon said that 300 soldiers were sent to assist in the culling of chicken, quail and ducks in Pampanga on Thursday.
To protect their health, they were given Oseltamivir (Tamiflu), said Health Undersecretary Eric Tayag.
Two farm workers who had flu-like symptoms turned negative for bird flu. No case of bird flu’s transmission to human has been recorded yet as of August 17, Tayag reported.
A total of 73,110 layered chickens, cocks, fighting cocks, and native chickens have been culled since last week. A poultry owner reported the death of at least 15,000 quail birds in San Carlos village in April and May. The disease has initially killed a total of 37.000 fowls since that time.
Bird flu viruses have spread in Europe and Africa in recent months. The H7N9 strain has led to transmission to human cases, including fatalities, in China.
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