Entry of poultry products strictly monitored in Davao City amid bird flu outbreak

by Antonio Colina, Manila Bulletin

DAVAO CITY — The City Government of Davao City has intensified efforts to monitor the entry of poultry products following the outbreak of Avian Influenza (AI) H5N1 in some provinces of Luzon and Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat, an official said.

Dr. Cerelyn Pinili, head of the City Veterinary Office, said that the security personnel here have been directed to screen the poultry products upon entry at checkpoints to check if these are not transported from areas with reported bird flu outbreaks.

She said the city has put up more veterinary checkpoints in Lasang, Calinan, Marilog, and Sirawan in Toril.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) confirmed an outbreak of bird flu in the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Laguna, and Camarines Sur and reported confirmed cases in Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Tarlac, and Benguet.

 

According to DA, the “possible sources of infection and spread of the virus in those areas are the presence of migratory or resident wild birds, late or non-reporting of suspect cases (sick/dying birds), and illegal movement of infected birds from H5N1 infected areas as per disease investigation conducted by veterinary authorities.”

Pinili said the transport of live birds coming from these areas has been banned in pursuance of DA’s Memorandum Circular No. 6 Series of 2022 released on Tuesday, which prescribes the “Guidelines on the movement of domestic and captured wild birds and poultry products and by-products during the avian influenza outbreak.”

According to the DA, the policy regulates the movement of ducks, quails, chicken, and other poultry commodities in affected areas, particularly those coming from within the one-kilometer (km) quarantine area.

She assured local consumers that the city remains free from bird flu.

“Based on our monitoring, we have no reported case yet. We have obtained several samples from our forms and results tested negative,” she said.

But Pinili encouraged the poultry raisers to immediately report to authorities any reported deaths of poultry caused by flu to contain the spread of infection.

She said the local government’s surveillance has been focused on Talomo and Tugbok Districts where the city’s big commercial poultry farms are situated.

 

In a press release issued by the City Government of Davao, Pinili said that the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) reported an outbreak of bird flu last March 10 in nearby Tacurong in Soccsksargen wherein 1,000 ducks had been culled.

Cockfighting Banned in Philippine Region Hit by Bird Flu

At least 300 soldiers sent in to assist in the culling of chicken, quail and ducks in Pampanga

Published: 14:23 August 17, 2017

Barbara Mae Dacanay, Correspondent

 

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.