WV still avian flu free
The Department of Agriculture (DA) assured the public of a negative presence of the avian flu virus in the region, particularly in the four municipalities of Capiz, namely, Sapi-an, Sigma, Ivisan and Roxas City. OIC Regional Executive Director Larry P. Nacionales announced during a Management Meeting held at RIARC at Sigma, Capiz, early this week, after dispatching the Regional Task Force on Avian Flu headed by Dr. Oscar Limoso to the said areas.
These municipalities were earlier reported to be most likely at risk to bird flu because it is identified as part of the migratory path of birds coming from other Asian countries, but there was no sign of avian flu virus nor death of birds or poultry animals in the area caused by the dreaded disease. This was confirmed by Dr. Leonel P. Abordo, Provincial Veterinarian of Capiz
Earlier on, the alarming avian flu scare has reached to another level due to intensification of the monitoring of migratory birds and the conduct of regular bird identification, bird counting, surveillance of suspected areas and the advocacy campaigns in identified “red-alert areas” in the region by the inter-agency efforts of the concerned government agencies in the region like the Department of Agriculture(DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Health (DOH). Although our country is out of the dreaded disease, obviously this can create problems especially among our poultry raisers and growers.
Under the Avian Influenza Protection Program of the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Animal Industry, the ban on importation of all live domestic and wild poultry and all poultry products from avian influenza affected countries is still up. This means that any live poultry or product importation in transit from AI affected countries shall not be allowed entry into the Philippines. Major ports of entry continuously impose strict quarantine measures and vigilant in its capacity as authorized personnel to apprehend violators.
At present, twenty (20) identified critical areas undergo surveillance of poultry twice a year by the DA-BAI. Of these critical areas, Panay Island, for the city of Roxas and Capiz is included. The target poultry population during the surveillance, are the native chickens, ducks, turkeys, backyard game fowls and quails. For every critical area, six barangays shall be identified for sample collection, which shall be done by the DA-BAI staff in coordination with the DA-RFUs and the LGUs concerned.
Director Larry P. Nacionales has ordered the heads of the different attached bureaus and institutions of the agency in the region to prepare specific protocols to ensure complete preparedness in the field in case of an outbreak of avian influenza in the region. (JSG RAFID 6)