ILOILO – The Iloilo-Bacolod Association of Veterinary Sales Representatives (IBAVSR) asked the provincial government to totally ban poultry products from Luzon.
This will protect the province’s poultry industry from the avian influenza or bird flu detected in parts of Luzon, it explained.
IBAVSR president Maria Fe Sy, provincial government veterinarian Dr. Darel Tabuada, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., and representatives from the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 6 had a meeting recently.
Bird flu transmits fast, according to Sy.
A total ban is wise, according to Sy, because the disinfection of products from Luzon could not be guaranteed 100 percent.
IBAVSR wondered how effective DA’s Memorandum Circular No. 6 is.
The memo laid out the guidelines in the movement of poultry products and byproducts. One read: “Prior to loading for shipment by air or sea, the closed van/vehicle containing the embryonated eggs must undergo ultraviolet light disinfection at the port of departure. The assigned Veterinary Quarantine Officer will issue a certification that the vehicle had undergone ultraviolet light disinfection.”
“Ang UV light disinfection, based on our experience, dapat may certain time nga dapat i-disinfect…kon mag-disinfect ka, according to experts using UV lights disinfection, kon ang babaw lang imo ma-disinfect ang dalom medyo questionable,” said Sy.
But according to PVO head, Dr. Darel Tabuada, there are many things to consider such as the total ban’s impact on the economy in case mag-total ban.
“Ginalantaw man naton ang mga bagay nga sin-o puede maapektohan sini….Please help us nga indi kita masudlan sang bird flu to sustain sang aton status kay daku ina nga impact sa economy naton kon i-guon kita diri sa province,” said Tabuada.
On March 17, Defensor issued Executive Order No. 222 (An Order Creating Avian Influenza Virus Prevention Task Force).
He also created a quick response team, surveillance team, quarantine team, and information education campaign team.
Here are the functions of each team.
* Quick Response Team – carry our immediate diagnosis of suspect premises and the initiation and implementation of stumping out procedures
* Surveillance Team – conducts regular surveillance and profiling of poultry disease in the identified priority areas
* Quarantine Team – ensures implementation of quarantine measures in seaports, airports, borders, and infected areas
* Information education pink Team – ensures awareness on the matters and updates pertaining to avian influenza./PN
