THE Department of Agriculture (DA) orders stricter control and containment measures versus bird flu after initial confirmation of the Avian Influenza (AI) H5N1 outbreaks affecting duck and quail farms in Bulacan, Pampanga, Laguna, and Camarines Sur.
“We need to act immediately to control avian influenza — which was initially detected in a duck farm in Bulacan and quail farms in Pampanga — so that we can prevent further spread and damage to our poultry industry,” said Agriculture Secretary William Dar.
Thus, the DA has issued Memorandum Circular No. 5 that prescribes the “Guidelines on the local movement of domestic and wild birds and poultry products and by-products during the Avian Influenza surveillance period.”
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.
“Farm owners must comply with the transport requirements in compliance with the prescribed surveillance period, diagnostic tests, and biosecurity protocol of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). This is to mitigate animal and public health risks posed by the virus,” said DA-Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) Director Dr. Reildrin Morales.
He added that the DA-BAI has been closely working with local government units (LGUs), DA-Regional Field Offices (RFOs), and other poultry industry stakeholders to ensure that biosecurity and disease control measures are implemented accordingly.
“The avian influenza virus detected is of subtype H5N1, which is also a threat to human health. This is the very reason we have to double our efforts in controlling and containing bird flu, and we can accomplish this through cooperation – especially those who are engaged in poultry production,” said Secretary Dar.
The DA-BAI, in close coordination with the LGUs and the private sector, has been conducting surveillance in all affected areas, along with the Department of Health (DOH) that monitors possible transmission of the H5N1 virus to people. To date, DOH personnel has not detected any sign nor symptom in all outbreak areas.
Further, Director Reildrin said the DA has issued Memorandum Circular No. 6 Series of 2022 that prescribes the “Guidelines on the movement of domestic and captured wild (ornamental) birds and poultry products and by-products during the avian influenza outbreak.”
He explained that the policy provides guidance to LGUs and poultry industry stakeholders on the prescribed movement of live birds, poultry products and by-products from Luzon to Region 4-B or MIMAROPA, Visayas, and Mindanao.
He said that confirmed cases of H5N1 have also been reported in the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Tarlac, Sultan Kudarat, and Benguet. 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.
