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[av_heading heading=’ WV GIRDS FOR AVIAN FLU DA-6 mobilizes quarantine officers ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO City – There are no cases yet of avian flu in Western Visayas but the Department of Agriculture (DA) is not leaving anything to chance.
As a proactive measure, DA Region 6 will be checking commercial poultry farms, said Regional Executive Director Remelyn Recoter.
Avian influenza is a viral infection that spreads among birds but can infect humans, too.
On Friday, DA’s central office confirmed an avian flu outbreak in San Luis, Pampanga province in Luzon. Around 37,000 fowls died of the avian influenza Type A Subtype H5 virus.
Recoter said DA-6 will be monitoring wetlands in the region, too, especially those attracting migratory birds what could be carrying the avian flu virus.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), birds are the natural hosts for avian influenza viruses. After an outbreak of A(H5N1) virus in 1997 in a poultry in Hong Kong, this avian and other influenza viruses have spread from Asia to Europe and Africa.
This early, Western Visayas should prepare from the possible entry of avian flu viruses, said Recoter. She is convening the regional advisory committee on animal diseases and emergency response tomorrow.
“Our primary responsibility is to secure our entry points like seaports and airports. These are our region’s major entry points,” Recoter told Panay News.
Deputized quarantine officers have already been deployed to various ports, she revealed.
After confirming the country’s first outbreak of bird flu Friday last week, Agriculture secretary Emmanuel Piñol said some 200,000 chickens, quails and ducks will be culled.
The avian flu outbreak started at a farm in San Luis, Pampanga then spread to five neighboring farms. There has been no case of human transmission although health officials are conducting checks on farm workers.
In Western Visayas, the manpower needed to secure its entry points would be one of the things to be discussed, said Recoter.
“Kon kulang ang tawo, especially sa Bureau of Animal Industry kag sa mga local government units, i-augment sang DA,” said Recoter.
On Aug. 11, the Bureau of Animal Industry, an attached agency of the DA, issued a memorandum circular which temporary banned the movement of live domestic and wild birds and their products including poultry meat, day old chicks, egg, semen, and manure from Luzon to Visayas and Mindanao.
The ban aims to prevent the further spread of avian flu in other parts of Luzon and to Visayas and Mindanao.
Among those that will attend tomorrow’s meeting are officials of DA-6’s Regulatory Division, Veterinary Quarantine Services, provincial veterinary officers in the region, poultry associations, Philippine National Police, and the Philippine Coast Guard.
Health secretary Paulyn Ubial, meanwhile, advised the public to take precautionary measures against the flu.
“Do not go near wild birds or go to farms with fowls. If you have flu symptoms that last longer than three days or feel very weak, see a doctor or go to the nearest hospital for testing if its bird flu,” she said.
According to WHO, avian flu human infection is primarily acquired through direct contact with infected animals.
The infection may cause diseases such as mild conjunctivitis or swelling of the eyes, severe pneumonia and even death. Interaction with humans infected with the flu, however, does not result in “efficient transmission” between people.
WHO also clarified that there is no evidence that the avian flu can be acquired by eating properly cooked eggs or poultry.
The Philippines is the latest country in Asia, Europe and Africa where the bird flu viruses have spread in recent months. Many strains only infect birds, but the H7N9 strain has led to human cases, including fatalities, in China. (With a report from Reuters/PN)
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