DOH chief: No human infection of bird flu in PHL so far

The Philippines is so far clear of any human infection of the avian influenza virus, the Department of Health (DOH) said Sunday.

"This is with regards human bird flu," Health Secretary Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial said in a text message.

Ubial's remarks come on the last day of the surveillance of humans which came in direct contact with fowls affected by the avian influenza in San Luis in Pampanga, and in Jaen and San Isidro in Nueve Ecija.

"Today is our last day of surveillance for direct contacts of affected fowls. Since walang nagka-bird flu among humans in close contact (we are so far clear)," she said.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel "Manny" Piñol on August 13 announced the outbreak of the avian influenza in a quail farm in Pampanga.

The avian influenza strain was later found to be H5N6, which is transmissible to humans, but reportedly with a low mortality rate.

In efforts to address this, the DOH and the Department of Agriculture (DA) have teamed up to cull all fowls within the one-kilometer quarantine radius.

On August 24, Piñol said the culling of all fowls in Pampanga had been completed.

The DA has lifted the ban on the shipment of poultry and poultry-related products from both Luzon and the 7-kilometer control zone.

According to Ubial, the DA will be in charge of announcing that the Philippines is free of the avian influenza virus.

"The DA declares animal or bird-bird flu," she said.

The DA earlier said it will take up to 90 days before the Philippines officially declares that the country is completely free of the avian influenza virus. —ALG, GMA News