Bird flu strain is H5N6, transmissible to humans — Agri dep't

The avian influenza strain that infected poultry farms in Pampanga and Nueva Ecija is the H5N6 which is transmissible to humans, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Thursday.

"Based po sa results from the Australian (testing), na-test na po ito for the N subtype and it was positive for the N6," Arlene Vytiaco, head of the Animal Disease Control Section of the DA's Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), said in a press conference.

Vytiaco said the N6 substrain infects humans, but with a low mortality rate.

"H5N6 ang sinasabi na pwedeng ma-transmit, pero po ang rate of transmission is very, very low talaga," she said.

Since the strain was detected in 2013, only an estimated 20 individuals have been infected. "Wala pa pong 20 ang namamatay and most of them were from China, exposed sa birds kasi they were working sa live bird markets," she said.

The bird flu may be transmitted to humans through direct contact. "Halimbawa, nahawakan mo 'yung bird tapos natapunan ka ng secretion nila, kasi ang infectious will be respiratory secretion pati ang kanilang fecal material," Vytiaco said.

"Puwede ding may contact ka sa mga materials na contaminated na sinasabi nating sources of infection," she added.

It may also be transmitted through inhalation of dried fecal material.

"Puwede din kasi ang ipot, 'pag natuyo sila, that becomes feather dust. So 'pag ang infected bird nagpagpag siya ng wings niya o kaya nag-shake siya ng head niya wherein 'yung mga nakakapit na mga dust pupunta sa environment, we can inhale that," she said.

Vytiaco said individuals who suspect themselves as infected should go for a checkup in a medical center accredited by the Department of Health (DOH).

"Flu-like talaga. Nanamlay tayo, wala tayong gana kumain. Puwedeng may ubo, may sipon. Very generalized 'yan. General symptoms," she said. — VDS, GMA News