The Department of Agriculture (DA) has ordered tighter measures against bird flu following the reports of avian influenza H5N1 outbreaks in some parts of Luzon.
In a memorandum circular, the agency regulates the movement of ducks, quail, chicken, and other poultry commodities in affected areas, particularly those coming from within the 1-kilometer quarantine area.
"We need to act immediately to control avian influenza — which was initially detected in a duck farm in Bulacan and quail farms in Pampanga — so that we can prevent further spread and damage to our poultry industry," Agriculture Secretary William Dar said in a statement.
Farm owners must comply with the transport requirements in compliance with the prescribed surveillance period, diagnostic tests, and biosecurity protocol of the World Organization for Animal Health, he added.
Dar said the avian influenza virus detected was of subtype H5N1, "which is also a threat to human health".
The DA said it has been conducting surveillance in all affected areas, along with the Department of Health (DOH) which monitors the possible transmission of the H5N1 virus to people. To date, DOH personnel has not detected any sign or symptom in all outbreak areas.
The DA also released a memorandum circular that provides guidance to local government units and poultry industry stakeholders on the prescribed movement of live birds, poultry products, and by-products from Luzon to Mimaropa, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Dr. Reildrin Morales, director of DA-Bureau of Animal Industry, said H5N1 cases have also been detected in the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Tarlac, Sultan Kudarat, and Benguet.
Migratory or resident wild birds, late or non-reporting of suspected cases, and illegal movement of birds from H5N1-hit areas could have spread the infection.
Morales said that worldwide, H5N1 is the predominant strain in almost all poultry outbreaks in 2021 and 2022.
“We made it possible to be avian flu-free in previous outbreaks, we could still do that again, but we need your help,” said Secretary Dar.
“Let me reiterate to our stakeholders, especially the LGUs and the poultry raisers – please report cases immediately. You are the first to know if there are suspected cases, as you are working on the ground. So, we depend and rely on you in this battle against avian flu,” he ended.
