DA: Camarines Sur, Davao del Sur now bird flu-free

The provinces of Camarines Sur and Davao del Sur are now free from avian influenza or bird flu, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

Based on Memorandum Circular 30 signed by former Agriculture Secretary William Dar on June 30, 2022, both areas tested negative for the H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) more than 40 days since their respective local government units, along with the DA Regional Field Office and the Bureau of Animal Industry, conducted clean-up, disinfection, and surveillance operations.

DA said that Camarines Sur and Davao del Sur were affected by bird flu in March 2022 after grazing ducks tested positive for the virus.

The last H5N1 HPA1 laboratory detection in Camarines Sur and Davao del Sur were on March 12, 2022 and April 1, 2022, respectively, it added.

“[R]esults of subsequent disease monitoring in the 1-km and 7-km surveillance zones of the abovementioned provinces yielded negative test results for influenza type A virus,” the circular read.

The DA said that its regional office in Bicol received reports on “high poultry mortality” in Bula and Sipocot, Camarines Sur in February.

“A total of 3,091 samples were collected and submitted to the Bureau of Animal Industry. Out of these samples, two samples from Sagrada, Bula were found to be positive with AI H5N1 by the BAI,” it added.

In March, the DA temporarily suspended the transportation of both poultry and non-poultry live birds from mainland Luzon to the rest of the country in light of the bird flu outbreak in Bulacan and Pampanga.

The agency also issued a memorandum circular regulating the movement of ducks, quails, chickens, and other poultry commodities in affected areas, particularly those coming from within the one-kilometer quarantine area. — Giselle Ombay/RSJ, GMA News