Malacañang called on the public on Saturday to refrain from spreading unverified information regarding bird flu cases that may cause alarm and panic.
“We ask our people to remain calm yet vigilant and to refrain from spreading unverified information that may cause undue alarm and panic,” Malacañang Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement read by his assistant China Jocson over Radyo Pilipinas.
Malacañang said the government is closely monitoring the situation in Nueva Ecija as the Department of Agriculture (DA) confirmed the second case of avian flu virus in the towns of Jaen and San Isidro on Friday.
READ: Bird flu virus slips into 2 Nueva Ecija towns
Health officers have trained military personnel and provided them with personal protective equipment and prophylaxis medicine good for 10 days for soldiers in charge of culling affected birds, Palace statement said.
The spokesperson assured that there are no cases of bird-to-human contamination have ever been reported in the country.
“We reiterate that bird flu is transferred via respiratory route. Properly cooked chicken, meat and egg remain safe to eat,” the statement read.
Palace officials said government agencies have been quick in its response, particularly in investigating and containing the avian flu virus, which was first discovered in San Luis, Pampanga last week.
“They have established heightened surveillance and community action teams for detection of other fowl deaths and possible flu cases in humans,” the statement added.
They have also established advanced, 24/7 command posts in San Nicolas, Pampanga and San Isidro, Nueva Ecija. JPV