MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday assured the public that the bird flu outbreak in some duck and quail farms in Luzon remains under control as they ordered stricter containment measures.

In the DA’s virtual press briefing, Secretary William Dar said biosafety protocols should be intensified to maintain effective containment of the virus.

“Nandito na sa atin, pero maganda po ang ugnayan ng (It’s here, but there’s good coordination among the) Bureau of Animal Industry, regional field offices, and the Department of Health, so under control po ito (it’s under control),” he said.

In an earlier statement, Dar said immediate action is needed to avoid the disease from spreading to other regions.

“The avian influenza virus detected is of subtype H5N1, which is also a threat to human health. This is the very reason we have to double our efforts in controlling and containing bird flu, and we can accomplish this through cooperation,” he said.

To date, an Avian Influenza (AI) H5N1 outbreak is recorded in duck and quail farms in Bulacan, Pampanga, Laguna, and Camarines Sur.

But cases were also reported in Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Tarlac, Sultan Kudarat, and Benguet “possibly” due to the presence of migratory birds, according to the department.

The DA has already issued Memorandum Circulars 5 and 6, which indicated the guidelines on the movement and surveillance of birds and poultry products amid the avian influenza outbreak.

Movement of all species of live birds, pigeons, game fowls, and ducks from Luzon to Region 4B, Visayas, and Mindanao is temporarily suspended for a month.

Likewise, inter-regional movement of live ducks and quail within mainland Luzon is also suspended for 30 days.

Other regulations for poultry commodities are also included, particularly from those coming from the 1-kilometer quarantine zone. (PNA)

SOURCE: https://www.pna.gov.ph/