Southern Leyte map
TACLOBAN CITY—Southern Leyte Gov. Damian Mercado has banned the entry of live chicken, quail, ducks and wild birds from Luzon to shield the province’s poultry industry from avian flu.
Mercado’s directive, which took effect last Monday, will last for 45 days to ensure that the influenza A virus, which caused the bird flu, will not harm poultry raisers in Southern Leyte.
Table eggs, quail eggs and balut or embryonated eggs from Luzon could still enter the province provided that the owners or their representatives could present a veterinary health certificate and disinfection certificate from the farm source as well as quarantine exit and entry records, the governor said.
These items must be transported in new or sanitized containers or egg trays.
Poultry products from Mindanao were exempted from the ban but could enter the province only through the port in Liloan town and should exit Southern Leyte only via Silago town.
Mercado said the poultry products from Mindanao were tested and were found negative for bird flu.
The Department of Agriculture earlier confirmed cases of bird flu in duck farms in Baliuag, Bulacan province; and in Candaba town of Pampanga province. —JOEY GABIETA