The Philippines has declared two of its provinces free from avian influenza after government authorities successfully eradicated the fatal disease in their respective poultry populations.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) issued Memorandum Circular (MC) 30 that declared the provinces of Camarines Sur and Davao del Sur free from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1.
The DA explained that the two provinces have been free from AI for more than 40 days since the complete stamping out of the susceptible poultry population and disinfection of infected premises.
The DA added that the recent AI tests conducted in the affected farms yielded negative results.
“More than forty [40] days have elapsed since the end of the clean up and disinfection operations; and surveillance has been carried out in accordance with the [World Organisation for Animal Health] [WOAH] Terrestrial Code and the [AI Protection Program] with both provinces yielded negative AI test results,” MC 30 read.
The DA explained that Camarines and Davao del Sur have been free from bird flu until their first confirmed cases were made last March 2022 after grazing ducks tested positive for the virus.
“Upon detection of the disease, the Local Government Units, in coordination with DA Regional Field Office and the Bureau of Animal Industry, conducted disease investigation, immediate depopulation, cleaning and disinfection, movement restrictions and surveillance in the affected premises,” the document read.
“Results of subsequent disease monitoring in the 1-km and 7-km surveillance zones of the abovementioned provinces yielded negative test results for influenza type A virus,” it added.
The DA added that the last H5N1 HPAI laboratory detection in Camarines Sur and Davao del Sur were undertaken on March 12 and April 1, respectively.
The DA noted that under the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code of 2021, AI-free status could be regained by a zone after a minimum period of 28 days after a stamping-out policy has been completed and proper disinfection and surveillance were made.
The BusinessMirror earlier reported that the government culled nearly 300,000 birds, mostly chicken layers, to prevent the spread of HPAI in the country. (Related story: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2022/07/04/govt-culls-layers-to-prevent-spread-of-bird-flu/).
The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) said that as of June 24 a total of 286,934 birds were culled by the government, of which, 66.38 percent or about 190,468 were chicken layers.
BAI data showed that the government also culled 47,667 ducks, 27,574 quails, 750 native chickens and 575 other birds. The attached agency of the Department of Agriculture said a certain farm owner conducted a pre-emptive culling of 19,900 broiler breeders.
The agency said the government has indemnified affected poultry farmers who received a total of P24.831 million. Based on its latest tally, BAI said bird flu cases in the country were confirmed in 95 barangays in 53 municipalities across 14 provinces in eight regions nationwide.
The BAI said 133,160 birds died due to the disease, bringing the total death count (mortalities and culled) to 420,094 birds.
As of June 24 there were 10 ongoing bird flu cases out of the 142 confirmed cases nationwide. The government has resolved 132 bird flu cases since the resurgence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in February. (Related story: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2022/02/22/phl-reports-new-avian-flu-outbreaks-in-central-luzon-farms/).