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Bird flu detected in Pampanga egg farm —DA-BAI


Days after it announced that the avian influenza A(H5N6) has been eliminated in Nueva Ecija, the Department of Agriculture through the Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) on Wednesday confirmed the detection of the virus in an egg-producing farm in San Luis, Pampanga.

In a statement, DA-BAI said it detected a highly- pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strain, specifically A(H5N6), in the said Pampanga town.

The confirmation of bird flu incidence in Pampanga came almost a week after the agency declared that the fowl disease had been eliminated in Barangay Ulanin-Pitak, Jaen, Nueva Ecija —where the first outbreak was reported. 

“Using the ‘one health approach,’ the DA-BAI — in tandem with the DA Central Luzon regional field office (DA-RFO3), provincial veterinary office (PVO) of Pampanga, and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of San Luis —quickly implemented integrated disease control measures to arrest the spread of A(H5N6),” the DA-BAI said.

Upon confirming the report, a composite team of veterinarians and animal health officers from DA-BAI, DA-RFO3, PVO Pampanga, and San Luis MLGU immediately applied emergency control measures at "ground zero" and conducted disease surveillance around the infected farm in San Luis, it said.

"The team humanely culled a total of 38,701 head of layers and disposed off them properly, employing the protocols under the Avian Influenza Protection Program of the Philippine Government," DA-BAI Director Ronnie Domingo said in his report to Agriculture Secretary William Dar.

All personnel involved in the disease control measures were strictly monitored by the health office of MLGU San Luis, said Domingo, adding that the DA-BAI assures the public that the A(H5N6) has not been reported and detected among broilers, the primary source of poultry meat. 

The DA-BAI chief said early reporting, detection and strong multi-agency collaboration paved the way for the rapid and effective response in the management of the A(H5N6) incidence.

“Initial field investigation showed the presence in San Luis of migratory birds, which has been associated with bird flu outbreaks in many countries, including the Philippines,” he said.

Domingo said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has identified 117 important bird areas (IBA) in the country, and about 150,000 migratory birds nest and breed annually in Central Luzon.

The DA-BAI urged poultry raisers in Central Luzon and in traditional IBAs to protect and shield their farms from the entry of migratory birds, and more importantly immediately report any unusual poultry mortalities. —KG, GMA News

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