S. Cotabato bans fowl transport as bird flu threat looms

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, Philippines — South Cotabato has temporarily banned the entry and movement in the province of backyard fowls and wild birds, including their products and byproducts, for at least 30 days in the wake of the detection of avian influenza cases in nearby Sultan Kudarat province.

The measure, contained in Executive Order No. 14 signed on Monday by Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr., would protect residents and the province’s thriving poultry industry against the spread of the viral disease.

Under EO 14, the local government specifically banned the movement within the province of ducks, quails, domestic fowls, gamefowl, including its meat, egg and manure.

Shipments of domesticated fowls and wild birds from other provinces will not be allowed in South Cotabato to prevent the further spread of the disease.

Commercial poultry farms situated within and outside the surveillance zones may still transport layer and broiler chickens but should be accompanied by negative test results for bird flu and complete permits.

Dr. Byron dela Cruz, animal health and regulatory division chief of the Provincial Veterinary Office, said the move was in line with the heightened surveillance in the province’s borders with Sultan Kudarat and other vulnerable areas, particularly the 10 villages in Tantangan and Norala towns that are adjacent to Tacurong City, where bird flu cases had been confirmed.

Containment zone

In Norala, Dela Cruz said the villages of Dumaguil and Matapol were included in the 7-kilometer containment zone due to a confirmed case in Barangay Baras, Tacurong.

Also included in the containment zone are the villages of Magon and Mangilala in Tantangan due to a confirmed case in Barangay Kalandagan, Tacurong.

Bird flu cases were reported by the Department of Agriculture’s Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory based in General Santos City in an emergency meeting on March 4, he said.

Dela Cruz said they decided to expand the surveillance, which started on March 8, to the villages of Tinago, Kibid and Liberty in Norala, and Dumadalig, New Cuyapo and Poblacion in Tantangan as a preemptive measure.

He said his office also collected samples from backyard fowls in Tantangan and Norala for laboratory testing.

Avian influenza is a disease caused by the H5N1 influenza virus that usually infects domestic poultry, and other birds and animal species. The virus, especially the type A H5N1, can also infect humans and pigs.

Dela Cruz said the preemptive surveillance is focused on the transient ducks (“itik”) as they are considered avian influenza “reservoirs.” He said native chicken, game fowl, goose and turkey are deemed most susceptible to the disease if infected by transient ducks.