ILOILO — Western Visayas remains free of avian influenza despite continuing bird-flu infections in 165 barangays elsewhere in the country, prompting veterinary authorities to keep close watch on coastal communities frequented by migratory birds.
The latest avian influenza status update released by the Department of Agriculture’s (DA)Avian Influenza Protection Program on September 25 showed no affected areas in any of the provinces in Western Visayas.
Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is a viral disease that primarily infects birds, particularly poultry and wild birds. Because migratory wild birds can carry influenza viruses between locations, authorities routinely conduct surveillance in areas where they gather or pass through.
The region’s bird-flu-free status was supported by surveillance activities conducted through the Provincial Veterinary Offices in mid-September, which yielded negative results for avian influenza.
The development comes as 165 barangays across 13 provinces and cities continue to be affected by avian influenza. Affected areas are in Kalinga, Benguet, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Laguna, Manila City, Isabela, Misamis Occidental, Mountain Province, Zamboanga Sibugay, Oriental Mindoro, Pangasinan and Maguindanao del Sur.
In Iloilo Province, veterinary authorities are particularly monitoring six coastal municipalities considered at higher risk because of sightings of migratory birds, which can potentially carry avian influenza viruses over long distances.
From September 15 to 17, the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPVet), in coordination with Municipal Agriculture Offices, conducted routine surveillance involving blood sampling and oropharyngeal swabbing in Carles, Estancia, Ajuy, Sara, Concepcion and Dumangas.
OPVet head Dr. Darel Tabuada said the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) identified the six municipalities as high-risk surveillance areas because migratory birds have been sighted there.
OPVet conducts bird-flu surveillance twice a year, usually in March and September, to verify that Iloilo remains free of the disease. Similar surveillance is undertaken in other Western Visayas provinces following directives from the DA-BAI, Tabuada said.
Capiz is the only Western Visayas province with a recorded history of avian influenza infection. It was subsequently declared free of bird flu under DA Memorandum Circular No. 27, Series of 2023.
Other areas that have recovered from avian influenza since 2023 include Rizal, Ilocos Sur, Batangas, Aurora, Ilocos Norte, Sultan Kudarat, Leyte, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Bataan, Bulacan, Davao del Sur, South Cotabato and Quezon.
For Western Visayas, continued monitoring of these high-risk sites is aimed at detecting possible infections early and protecting the region’s poultry industry while maintaining its bird-flu-free status./PN
