Davao Sur NDV-free, vet assures

DIGOS CITY—Though no case of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) has yet been reported in Davao del Sur province and in nearby Davao City, government veterinarians and poultry owners are taking extra measures against the disease, which has afflicted several chicken farms in Tarlac and Batangas provinces in Luzon.

Dr. Fermin Verallo, city veterinarian, said he could categorically declare the city and the whole of Davao del Sur free of NDV, which can be transmitted to humans. “But we are taking precautions to prevent the disease from entering the province,” he said.

More than 30 large- and medium-scale chicken farms are found in Davao del Sur and these are mostly contracted by chicken meat processors.

Medical experts have advised the public against coming in contact with or consuming the meat of birds afflicted with NDV, which they say is highly contagious and can be transmitted to humans. Those exposed to infected birds can develop mild conjunctivitis and influenza-like symptoms, but so far no case of human death has been reported as a result of transmission.

At least 20 chickens have died in a farm in Toril district in Davao City, according to the city veterinarian’s office (CVO), but it traced the cause to malnutrition and respiratory infection.

Dr. Gay Pallar said a team from the CVO went to one farm to investigate some chicken deaths but did not find any symptom of NDV affliction.

Several poultry farms had began vaccinating their chickens as a precautionary step.

“Only vaccine can control and prevent NDV, and we made backyard raisers the priority because they do not practice bio-protection unlike those raising game fowls,” Pallar said.

So far, the CVO had vaccinated more than 100,000 chickens last year, she said.

Rex Junsay, a poultry owner, said he had barred vehicles and people entering his farm without undergoing disinfection.  Orlando Dinoy, Inquirer Mindanao