A year after the World Organization for Animal Health declared the Philippines free of avian influenza, a new strain of the virus was detected in the country.
The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) said highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 strain was detected in duck and quail farms in Central Luzon using real time-polymerase chain reaction tests conducted by the agency’s Animal Disease Diagnosis and Reference Laboratory.
The strain that hit the country in 2017 was H5N6 which caused the first recorded bird flu case in the Philippines.
BAI said the disease was again detected in the country last January 6 in a duck farm in Barangay Barangka in Baliuag, Bulacan following routine surveillance activities.
A second case was reported on January 21 in two commercial quail farms in Barangay Dalayap in Candaba, Pampanga and on January 27 in a quail farm in Barangay Mangga in the same town.
The third and latest case case was reported on February 11 in two adjacent quail farms in Barangay San Antonio in Mexico, Pampanga.
“We immediately carried out the needed protocol to effectively contain avian influenza that was detected in ducks and quails in Baliuag, Bulacan, and Candaba and Mexico in Pampanga — aimed mainly at preventing it from spreading to other areas,” said Agriculture Secretary William Dar.
Reildrin Morales, BAI director, said the agency continuously conducts surveillance activities on all poultry species.
No avian flu occurrence was detected in chickens and turkeys.
Morales added municipal veterinary authorities promptly culled and properly disposed all birds in the affected quail and duck farms.
Following established protocols under the avian influenza preparedness plan, an immediate disease investigation to trace back or trace forward were conducted. Surveillance in the one-kilometer quarantine zone around the infected farms were also done.
The local government units of Pampanga and Bulacan and the Department of Health are also working together to avoid the risk of transmission to humans.
“We enjoin all poultry raisers and farm workers to observe and implement necessary biosecurity measures and cooperate with temporary movement restrictions that may be applied in affected areas to prevent incursion of the disease in their facilities or farms. We assure the general public that the risk to catch H5N1 virus is very low. Poultry meat and its products are safe to eat,” Dar added.
Jose Elias Inciong, president of the United Broiler Raisers Association, said the fresh case of avian flu will not affect supply of chicken meat.
“No chickens, whether broilers or layers, were infected or affected,” Inciong said.
Raul Montemayor, national manager of the Federation of Free Farmers, said the government should further improve “serious gaps” in the country’s border protection system, particularly in the quarantine inspection for meat imports.
Vic Dimagiba, Laban Konsyumer Inc.president, said retail prices of chicken must be tracked for any unusual upward adjustments.
Dimagiba said farm gate price of chicken at present is “a bit high” at P95 per kilogram (kg) for regular off size and prime sizes.
DA’s monitoring of 13 public markets as of yesterday showed the prevailing retail price of whole dressed chicken is at P160 per kg, unchanged from last month’s price.
