The Department of Agriculture declared Bulacan province free from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) following the successful containment of an H5N1 strain outbreak detected in December 2024.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced the declaration after extensive surveillance confirmed the absence of the virus in and around the affected areas.
The outbreak, involving the H5N1 strain, was detected at a commercial duck farm in Pandi and was verified through RT-PCR testing.
Control measures were swiftly activated under the Avian Influenza Protection Program (AIPP). These measures included depopulation, intensive cleaning and disinfection, movement restrictions, and close monitoring within the one- and seven-kilometer surveillance zones, the DA said.
Tiu Laurel confirmed the province’s AI-free status after follow-up tests satisfied the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) criteria, which requires 28 days of negative results following disinfection.
Bulacan also reported HPAI H5N1 cases in 2022 and 2023, but regained its disease-free status each time due to rapid response and strict biosecurity measures.
The DA said any future confirmed outbreaks would automatically revoke the province’s AI-free status.
