Davao has issued a temporary ban on birds and their by-products due to the threat of avian flu.
DAVAO CITY, DAVAO — With Davao City under Stage 1 or tagged as an avian influenza-free area, the city government has issued a directive temporarily prohibiting the entry of domesticated and captured wild birds as well as their products and by-products originating from those places identified with the presence of bird flu.
According to acting Davao City mayor Sebastian ‘Baste’ Duterte, the city government had issued the temporary prohibition to protect the public from the adverse effects of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, which refers to the disease caused by infection with avian (bird) influenza (flu) Type A viruses that viruses naturally spread among wild aquatic birds and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species.
“Although bird flu viruses do not normally infect humans, Duterte opined that it would be best that the city prepare for any eventuality to occur and to support this, the directive for the prohibition has been issued, which includes a temporary ban on the entry of chicks, eggs, manure and chicken feathers from Luzon at other areas where there is bird flu.
Last February, H5N1 avian influenza was detected in several birds in Bulacan and Pampanga and two months later, other birds with the disease were discovered in Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat and Magsaysay, Davao del Sur.
Duterte said that they have intensified preventive measures to prevent the spread of the avian flu in the city that includes the setting up of checkpoints in strategic locations in all entry and exit points of Davao City.
Citing that the city is under Stage 1 or is still avian bird flu-free, Davao City veterinarian Dr. Cerelyn Pinili said that it was necessary for the authorities to control and prevent the entry of birds and their by-products into the city.
Photo courtsey: Davao Today
