Chickens from a poultry farm are going outside again in Winkel, Netherlands on April 29, 2020 after health measures were introduced in February, following a case of bird flu in a turkey farm in Germany near the Groningen (Dutch northern province) border. (File photo by Olaf KRAAK / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands)
MANILA, Philippines — Department of Agriculture (DA) withheld the release of about 400 fighting cocks imported from United States (US) as a precaution against bird flu.
Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) of DA delayed the release of game fowls from Atlanta, Georgia.
The birds were delivered by a courier representing several Filipino breeders of fighting cocks, according to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
About 30 of the game fowls also underwent a test for avian influenza.
DA said the animals will be released if test results will yield negative results for the virus.
“We’re just being extra careful and vigilant,” Laurel said in a statement.
He also noted the precaution was done following the import ban of breeding stocks of birds and poultry products from the US states of California and Ohio.
Recent outbreaks of H5N1, a highly pathogenic avian influenza strain, were recorded in the two places.
In January, DA prohibited the importation of domesticated and wild birds, as well as poultry meat, eggs and other related products, from the two US states.
The ban was due to the rapid spread of H5N1 strain there.
Avian influenza has already entered the Philippines.
Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Laguna, Sultan Kudarat, Kalinga, Cagayan and Bataan remain affected by bird flu.
“The spread of avian influenza from imported birds could immensely damage our poultry sector and could wipe out billions of pesos in investments, endanger thousands of jobs, and potentially undermine our food security,” Tiu warned.