DENR cautions anew against touching migratory birds
Avoid touching migratory birds, whether these are alive, dead or dying.
This was the advice of Environment and Natural Secretary Angelo Reyes in a recent DENR press report to the public to prevent any possible human infection of bird flu.
Reyes further urged the public to be constantly on the lookout for signs of bird flu and to report to the nearest DENR office incident especially of multiple deaths, among domestic poultry and migratory wetbirds.
The bird flu virus is believed to be carried by migratory birds that flock to local wetlands to escape the cold weather in their host countries.
Reyes said the Philippines is still bird flu-free but the threat of the virus is ever present. He added that there is an upsurge in bird flu cases in Asia, Europe and Africa and heard reports of new cases in several countries.
Some of the countries that reported new cases, according to the DENR report, are Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, Egypt, Nigeria, Hungary and Russia.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) have yet to confirm that the migratory egret that has a leg tag from Tokyo, Japan found in Prieto Diaz in the province of Sorsogon is infected with avian flu.
Bureau of Animal Industry National Coordinator for Avian Flu Dr. Sammy Anima said the town of Prieto Diaz which is about 45 kilometers southeast of Sorsogon City has been included on the watch list of possible bird-flu areas because of the presence of various migratory birds in its mangrove forests.
The regional offices of the DA and the DENR are now assisting the Sorsogon provincial office in closely watching the migratory birds within the municipality of Prieto Diaz and other wetland areas adjacent to it.
(PIA)