Negros Occidental, Misamis Oriental tighten borders vs bird flu

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The provinces of Negros Occidental and Misamis Oriental have secured their borders to prevent the entry of poultry products following the detection of the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 strain in quail and duck farms in Pampanga and Bulacan provinces in Luzon.

In Negros Occidental, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has banned the entry of all live domestic and wild birds as well as their products to protect the province from the bird flu.

In his executive order, Lacson also prohibited the entry of poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, semen, and manure from all regions in the country from Feb. 28 to March 15.

“In order to ensure the safety of everyone in Negros Occidental, all local chief executives are directed to strengthen biosafety, hygiene, and sanitation standards in slaughterhouses, abattoirs, public markets, and poultry farms in their respective area of jurisdiction,” Lacson said.

In Misamis Oriental, the ban on the entry of duck eggs from Pampanga has been up since Monday, based on an order by Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano, said provincial veterinarian Benjamin Resma.

Resma added that they have informed the National Veterinary Quarantine Office about Emano’s order as well as the management of Laguindingan airport as the supply of duck eggs from Pampanga usually arrive in the province via air freight.

Although he did not provide the actual supply volume, Resma noted that Misamis Oriental gets about 90 percent of its duck eggs needs from Pampanga.

Resma assured the public that the poultry products sold in the province were safe from any disease, citing the result of their regular monitoring.

—REPORTS FROM CARLA GOMEZ AND FRANCK DICK ROSETE

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