The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) said that stricter measures are being implemented to contain the transmission of bird flu.
The DA-BAI said it had increased the following measures against the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus:
– thorough disease investigation
– immediate culling and proper disposal of all remaining birds in affected farms
– intensive surveillance in the one-kilometer quarantine zone around the infected farms
– heightened transport requirements for poultry commodities, requiring negative AI tests and other documents
“The BAI is steadfast in mitigating the spread of AI, protecting the poultry industry of our country and ensuring the safety of our consumers,” DA-BAI OIC-Reildrin Morales said.
The department said that it has granted private laboratories permission to conduct AI testing.
The DA confirmed earlier this month that the Asian Avian Influenza (AI) Subtype H5N1 has already reached 17 provinces in the Philippines.
Since January, the outbreak has resulted in the deaths of 182,968 birds and the culling of 1,267,055 poultry.
— Ronald Espartinez