The Department of Agriculture (DA) has cleared Batangas from avian influenza.
The decision was made through Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 23 series of 2023 signed by Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban on June 16.
Batangas recorded one confirmed case of highly pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5N1 which was confirmed through laboratory testing last December.
Upon the detection of the disease, DA said the provincial government of Batangas and the municipality of Ibaan, in coordination with DA regional field office Calabarzon and the Bureau of Animal Industry, conducted disease investigation, immediate depopulation, cleaning and disinfection, movement restrictions and surveillance in the affected premises following the Avian Influenza Protection Program guidelines.
DA said continued disease monitoring and surveillance surrounding the affected farms yielded negative test results for influenza type A virus for more than 90 days which led to the issuance of the MC. – Jed Macapagal
