AT RISK Ver San Pedro, chair of Barangay Lugam in City of Malolos, shows off the eggs produced in his poultry farm in this November 2021 photo. Commercial and backyard farms in Bulacan province are cautioned against the possible bird flu infection after the type A subtype H5N1 strain of the disease was detected in Sta. Maria town. INQUIRER file photo / CARMELA REYES-ESTROPE
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture (DA) has allocated P177.78 million for the Avian Influenza Protection program to stop the spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus.
The amount is higher than previous years’ allocations.
The fund will be used to respond to animal disease emergencies and implement mitigating measures, such as close coordination with local government units (LGUs) and stakeholders, disease investigation efforts, monitoring of quarantine zones, and swift culling and disposal of diseased poultry animals.
In a statement, Asteria Vytiaco, DA-BAI Assistant Director, emphasized that the bureau has “intensified” control measures to avoid a spike in bird flu cases.
Vytiaco said that after DA-BAI confirmed that a layer poultry farm in Santa Maria, Bulacan had tested positive for HPAI Subtype H5N1 on January 31, it immediately began depopulating the area, implementing intensive surveillance in the 1-kilometer quarantine zone, and cleaning and disinfecting the facility.
“Ini-intensify natin ang ating control measures para huwag nang maranasan ’yong last year na talagang tumaas ang kaso natin ng February until March to April,” Vytiaco said.
(We are intensifying our control measures so that we do not experience last year when our cases really increased from February until March to April.)
She added that the Bulacan poultry farm was the first to be afflicted with avian flu this year, but that the situation has been resolved and contained.
Following the 1-kilometer radius monitoring from the infected farm, the surveillance radius will be increased to 7 kilometers to ensure that the area is HPAI-free.
“We really encourage self-reporting or early reporting para po ma-contain na agad natin ’yong sakit,” she said.
(We really encourage self-reporting or early reporting so that we can immediately contain the disease.)
Additionally, DA-BAI is in close collaboration with DA-Regional Field Offices (RFOs), and private sector stakeholders to ensure that the country’s poultry industry is protected.
“Sa mga farms po kasi, for AI talagang ang pinakamahalaga po is iyong biosecurity, para wag tayong tamaan especially may mga detections pa rin tayo ng AI. The Philippines is not yet AI free, so all farm owners should practice strict biosecurity measures,” Vytiaco further explained.
(In farms, for AI the most important thing is the biosecurity, so we don’t get hit especially if we still have AI detections. The Philippines is not yet AI free, so all farm owners should practice strict biosecurity measures.)
Moreover, Vitiaco advised farm owners and employees to follow routine cleaning and disinfection procedures, restrict farm visitors, and implement bird proofing techniques.
“Any sign po ng sakit or mortality, please, I encourage you na sana po report early sa ating authorities. Puwede sa barangay or municipal level. Basta makapag-report po tayo para maisagawa natin ang mabilisang disease investigation at ma-contain agad natin yung sakit,” she added.
(Any sign of illness or mortality, please, I encourage you to report early to our authorities. It can be done at the barangay or municipal level. We should report it as soon as possible so that we can conduct a quick disease investigation and contain the disease immediately.)
To stop the spread of HPAI virus, the DA has already issued memorandum orders temporarily banning importing domestic and wild birds as well as poultry products from nations where the virus outbreak has been proven.
Vytiaco said that migratory birds, common at this time of year, could spread a virus from affected countries to the local poultry population, which is a significant danger factor.
In February 2022, the Philippines was unable to recover its AI-free status after an outbreak. – Kimberly D. Albaño, INQUIRER.net intern