Poultry stakeholders and the Department of Agriculture (DA) culled infected birds detected in a duck farm in Baliuag, Bulacan, and quail farms in Candaba and Mexico, Pampanga to contain avian influenza (bird flu) and prevent another outbreak.
“We immediately carried out the needed protocol to effectively contain avian influenza that was detected in ducks and quails in Baliuag, Bulacan, and in Candaba and Mexico in Pampanga, aimed mainly at preventing it from spreading to other areas,” said Agriculture Secretary William Dar.
The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) confirmed the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 strain through its Animal Disease Diagnosis and Reference Laboratory (BAI-ADDRL) using Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR).
BAI director Reildrin Morales said while there is no reported occurrence of AI in chickens and turkeys, the Bureau continues to monitor all poultry species through municipal agriculturists.
The disease was first detected from a duck farm, in Barangay Barangka, Baliuag, Bulacan, through routine surveillance activities on January 6, 2022. The monitoring is part of the early warning system enforced by BAI.
Another incident was reported on January 21, 2022, from 2 commercial quail farms, in Brgy. Dalayap, Candaba, Pampanga and from a quail farm, in Brgy. Mangga, Candaba, Pampanga, in January 27, 2022.
The third case was reported on February 11, 2022, from two adjacent quail farms in Brgy. San Antonio, Mexico, Pampanga.
All infected poultry animals were immediately culled and properly disposed to lessen the probability of the disease spreading to other farms.
Following the established protocol under the Avian Influenza Preparedness Plan (AIPP), the monitoring team conducted disease investigation, surveillance in within the 1-kilometer radius quarantine zone from the infected farms.
Situation updates were sent to concerned LGUs of Pampanga and Bulacan and to the Department of Health (DOH), for them to take action and avoid the risk of transmission to humans.
“We enjoin all poultry raisers and farm workers to observe and implement necessary biosecurity measures and cooperate with temporary movement restrictions that may be applied in affected areas to prevent incursion of the disease in their facilities/farms,” Dar said.
“We assure the general public that the risk to catch H5N1 virus is very low. Poultry meat and its products are safe to eat,” he added.
