Davao del Sur declared bird flu-free

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday it has declared the province of Davao del Sur as free from avian influenza or bird flu.

In a statement, the DA said Davao del Sur’s declaration as bird flu-free came after the province met all requirements to regain its disease-free status after a November 2025 case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Subtype H5. 

The infection was first detected in a backyard duck farm in the municipality of Magsaysay, which prompted immediate intervention from local and national authorities which adhered to established protocols such as rapid depopulation of affected birds, disinfection, movement controls, and intensified surveillance. 

The containment and disease control measures were implemented by the provincial government in coordination with the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office XI and the Bureau of Animal Industry.

“Declaring Davao del Sur avian influenza-free is not just a technical milestone—it is a critical step in securing our food supply, restoring investor confidence, and protecting the livelihoods of our poultry farmers,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. 

“A stable, disease-free environment encourages investments, supports job creation across the value chain, and ultimately ensures better and more reliable income for our farmers,” said the Agriculture chief.

The DA said subsequent monitoring within designated one-kilometer and seven-kilometer zones yielded negative results for influenza type A virus, indicating no further spread. 

Authorities also completed both initial and final cleaning and disinfection operations, satisfying international benchmarks for disease control, it said.

The Agriculture Department said the declaration aligns with standards set by the World Organisation for Animal Health, which allows areas to regain avian influenza-free status at least 28 days after containment measures are completed and surveillance confirms the absence of infection.

The agency said that any new confirmed case would trigger immediate reporting and could revoke the province’s disease-free designation. — RSJ, GMA News