Benguet now free from AI, cases now contained to 9 provinces
The Department of Agriculture (DA) declared the province of Benguet free from avian influenza (AI), two years after the initial case of the H5N1 strain infection was confirmed through laboratory testing.
DA said initial cases of the H5N1 strain infections were detected in various fowls, including layer and native chickens, ducks, turkey and goose, between February and September 2022 in the city of Baguio and the towns of Atok, Buguias, Itogon, La Trinidad, Sablan and Tublay.
The agency said immediate depopulation, cleaning and disinfection, mobility restrictions and surveillance in areas surrounding affected farms including stricter biosecurity were conducted that soon resulted into negative AI test results.
The agency said after Benguet’s removal, only nine provinces are not yet restored with their AI-free status.
Data from the Bureau of Animal Industry identified that the nine provinces include Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Laguna, Sultan Kudarat, Kalinga, Cagayan and Bataan.
BAI added that there has been no reported cases of new AI cases since the start of 2024.
Based on DA’s monitoring of public markets in the National Capital Region, the price as of yesterday of whole dressed chicken is between P145 to P200 per kilogram.
