ILOILO City – Western Visayas (WV) is now on “high alert” following the detection of the first cases of avian influenza (AI) type A or bird flu in the region, particularly in Barangay Cagay, Roxas City, Capiz.
According to Engr. Jose Albert A. Barrogo, OIC-regional executive director of Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 6, the DA-6 convened its Regional Task Force on Animal Diseases and Other Emergencies on Dec. 3 together with all of the provincial veterinarians in the region as well as the city government of Roxas and provincial government of Capiz to discuss immediate measures to address the concern.
“As of the moment the area has been contained and disinfected by the authorities. Upcoming activities related to AI prevention and control measures are in place to assure the public’s safety,” said Barrogo.
The DA-6, late last month, received reports of high mortalities (26 deaths) of ready to lay pullets in Capiz and immediately coordinated with the Capiz Provincial Veterinary Office for an investigation.
Of the 10 serum/oropharyngeal swab samples collected and submitted to DA’s Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RADDL) for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) testing and to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) for confirmatory test (real time-polymerase chain reaction), five samples from pool 2 yielded positive for influenza virus type A (IVA) subtype H5N1 on Dec. 2.
Barrogo said the samples came from a backyard farm which is into egg-laying business in Roxas City.
A total of 217 ready-to-lay chickens, eight ducks and seven eggs in the infected farm have been depopulated.
“The said area has been properly acted upon as per protocol and coordination with the concerned LGU (local government unit) and the Bureau of Animal Industry. Initially, the source of the infection came from ready to lay birds that were sourced in from Luzon,” Barrogo added.
The DA regional office has also implemented the recommendations of the BAI to conduct the following:
* immediate quarantine and disease control measures in the affected premises;
* properly culling and disposal of all remaining birds;
* conduct of disease investigation (trace back and trace forward);
* conduct of field surveillance and sample collection in all farms/households with susceptible animals within one-kilometer quarantine zone from the infected premises;
* coordinate with the LGUs and other agencies for the implementation of AI Manual of Procedures; and
* coordinate with counterpart agencies like the Department of Health to monitor exposure of humans in the affected premises.
Following the first detected cases, several areas in the region are under close monitoring by the DA-6. They have identified bird flu critical areas in the region such as in Ajuy, Sara, Concepcion, and Dumangas towns in Iloilo; Sibalom, Antique; Sipalay City, Negros Occidental; Barangay Bugnay, Jordan, Guimaras; and some areas in Aklan and Capiz.
“Amo ni sila ang may mga sanctuary sang mga migratory birds. Amo na ang gina-monitor namon. Ginapangkwaan naton sang samples kag ginapang-test ini siya,” said Barrogo.
Bird flu is a highly contagious viral disease caused by any influenza virus affecting several species of food-producing birds (chickens, turkeys, quails, guinea fowl, etc.), as well as pet birds and wild birds.
In Luzon, cases of bird flu were traced from migratory birds stopping by marshes.
Meanwhile, the remaining five provinces in Western Visayas are encouraged to strengthen their bio-security measures, activate their respective provincial taskforce on avian influenza and issue pertinent executive orders on the matter.
“We encourage everyone to report immediately in your respective nearest municipal agriculture offices or provincial veterinary offices for any unusual death of poultry in your locality,” Barrogo added.
Earlier, the provincial government of Iloilo through Executive Order (EO) No. 572-2022 imposed a temporary ban on the entry to the province of domestic and captured wild (ornamental) birds, poultry products and by-products from the province of Capiz from Dec. 3 to 13, 2022.
In Iloilo City, Mayor Jerry P. Treñas reiterated his EO No. 043-2022 extending the effectivity of EO No. 06-2022, prohibiting the entry into the city of all live poultry and/or non-poultry and poultry products and by-products during the continuing avian influenza outbreak from Luzon and Mindanao.
He is also set to issue another EO banning the poultry products and by-products from Capiz./PN
