DA strengthens monitoring ports of entry vs H1N1 virus
The Department of Agriculture 6 (DA 6) has strengthened its monitoring of the ports of entry in Western Visayas to prevent the entry of Influenza A (H1N1) virus.
This was disclosed by Dr. Jonic Natividad, DA 6 Regional Quarantine Officer during the regular weekly press conference on H1N1 held at the Philippine Information Agency 6 regional office this city.
According to Natividad, personnel manning the ports of entry coming from the Iloilo Provincial Veterinary Office were trained under the Veterinary Quarantine Service of DA 6. These personnel will be assigned in the ports of Ajuy and Dumangas.
He added that the DA and DOH are also closely working in monitoring the ports of entry in the region.
During the press conference Natividad shared with the Iloilo media a case in Alberta, a Canadian province, where a pig farm was infected by a carpenter coming from Mexico.
The swine, he said, showed flu-like signs and later found out positive for H1N1 but the good part was both the carpenter and swine have recovered from the disease.
Also, Natividad reported that as of May 10, the Bureau of Animal Industry of the DA lifted the temporary suspension on pork and meat imports from Canada, except those coming from Alberta.
The lifting of the temporary suspension on pork imports from Canada followed the earlier government move to remove similar trade restrictions on the commodity coming from affected zones in United States and Mexico along with other countries hit by the Influenza A H1N1 virus. (PIA)