Sally Furniss
Well-known member
NegOr avian flu task force sets bird flu awareness drive
http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p070330.htm&no=15&r=&y=&mo=
By Rachelle Nessia
Dumaguete City (30 March) -- Despite the bird flu-free status of the province and as well as the Philippines, there still is a need to inform the public on the preventive measures against bird flu, said Dr. Antonio Mutia, provincial veterinary officer here.
Mutia's concern is shared by national agriculture and health officials who believe that although the Philippines remains free from the deadly avian flu virus, the threat of infection, however, continues to loom over the country.
Based on a report from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), the Philippines is literally surrounded by countries already infected by the virus that has already left in its trail a total of 273 human deaths while poultry losses is pegged at $95.754M as of February 2007.
In the Asian region, only Brunei, Singapore and the Philippines remain free from the clutches of the deadly virus, according to Dr. Rose Antegro of the Bureau of Animal Industry in Manila.
Antegro said it is no mere luck that the Philippines is bird flu-free as the concerted efforts of government agencies and various stakeholders to prevent the incursion of the disease here have played a key role in keeping the killer virus H5N1- the most dangerous strain of influenza A virus - off the Philippine shores.
On February 5, 2004, Executive Order 280 was issued, creating the Avian Influenza Protection Program (AIPP) and the National Avian Influenza Task Force (NAITF) that paved the way for the implementation of stringent anti-bird flu measures in the country.
Under the AIPP, a ban on importation of all poultry products from infected countries have been imposed while laboratory equipment for AI diagnosis has been upgraded and all technical staff have been trained on routine AI diagnosis.
A total of 14,046 blood samples and 2,514 cloacal swabs from native/game fowls, chickens, ducks from 16 regions, 54 provinces, 158 towns, 19 cities and 286 barangays across the country have been collected as of December 31, 2006.
All samples were tested and results showed that they were negative for AI.
Staggering
The Bureau of Animal Industry said a bird flu outbreak in the country would cause a huge financial dent to the poultry industry with losses pegged to reach a staggering P116B.
The ensuing consumer panic will lead to a sharp drop in consumption of chicken and eggs and a loss of growing export market, added BAI in a report.
This scenario is simply unacceptable, just when the country is enjoying the longest period of uninterrupted GDP growth in a quarter-century as a result of more than six years of government programs, infrastructure projects and economic expansion under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Thus, the government's safety net has not relaxed as constant monitoring and blood sampling is being done particularly in the 20 identified hotspots in the country or areas where there transient migratory birds exist or with highly concentrated domestic duck/chicken population.
The areas are, namely: Zamboanga del Norte; Zamboanga del Sur; Zamboanga City; Zambonga Sibugay; Palawan near Quezon and Narra towns; Pampanga-Candaba swamp; Ilocos Norte-Pagudpud; Cagayan-Aparri; Cebu-Olanggo Island; Negros Occidental-Himamaylan; Isabela-Magat Dam; Agusan del Sur; Agusan del Norte; Surigao del Norte-Lake Mainit; Surigao del Sur; Panay Island-Roxas, Capiz; Sorsogon-Bulan and Matnog; General Santos City; Mindoro Oriental-Naujan; and Cotabato-Liguasan Marsh.
Bird flu campaign in OrNeg
Even though Oriental Negros is not identified as a bird flu hotspot, Mutia nevertheless is determined to pull the net a bit tighter, as he plans to conduct a stepped up avian flu information drive in the three districts in the province in the following months.
"The campaign will be done by district and our target audience will be our key players in the towns and cities, who will be responsible for disseminating the information down to the barangay levels," he said.
Mutia disclosed that he has initially conducted an information campaign in selected areas in the province such as Tanjay City and Bais City.
The said cities are among the areas in the province where there are wetlands, which attract migratory birds and thus, put them at risk of an avian flu infection.
Trained fieldmen of the Provincial Veterinary Office also continue to conduct blood sampling here, he added.
As a preventive measure, Mutia urged homeowners not to place chicken, ducks and pigs together in one area, cage or pen, which is a common practice among local residents.
He also advised the public to immediately report to their local agriculture officer if they notice unusual symptoms among their chickens and other birds.
The national government is resolute in its efforts to pull out all stops to keep the country bird flu-free since once the infection invades the country, the consequences on human health and the country's economy can be staggering, according to authorities. (PIA/RMN)
http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p070330.htm&no=15&r=&y=&mo=
By Rachelle Nessia
Dumaguete City (30 March) -- Despite the bird flu-free status of the province and as well as the Philippines, there still is a need to inform the public on the preventive measures against bird flu, said Dr. Antonio Mutia, provincial veterinary officer here.
Mutia's concern is shared by national agriculture and health officials who believe that although the Philippines remains free from the deadly avian flu virus, the threat of infection, however, continues to loom over the country.
Based on a report from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), the Philippines is literally surrounded by countries already infected by the virus that has already left in its trail a total of 273 human deaths while poultry losses is pegged at $95.754M as of February 2007.
In the Asian region, only Brunei, Singapore and the Philippines remain free from the clutches of the deadly virus, according to Dr. Rose Antegro of the Bureau of Animal Industry in Manila.
Antegro said it is no mere luck that the Philippines is bird flu-free as the concerted efforts of government agencies and various stakeholders to prevent the incursion of the disease here have played a key role in keeping the killer virus H5N1- the most dangerous strain of influenza A virus - off the Philippine shores.
On February 5, 2004, Executive Order 280 was issued, creating the Avian Influenza Protection Program (AIPP) and the National Avian Influenza Task Force (NAITF) that paved the way for the implementation of stringent anti-bird flu measures in the country.
Under the AIPP, a ban on importation of all poultry products from infected countries have been imposed while laboratory equipment for AI diagnosis has been upgraded and all technical staff have been trained on routine AI diagnosis.
A total of 14,046 blood samples and 2,514 cloacal swabs from native/game fowls, chickens, ducks from 16 regions, 54 provinces, 158 towns, 19 cities and 286 barangays across the country have been collected as of December 31, 2006.
All samples were tested and results showed that they were negative for AI.
Staggering
The Bureau of Animal Industry said a bird flu outbreak in the country would cause a huge financial dent to the poultry industry with losses pegged to reach a staggering P116B.
The ensuing consumer panic will lead to a sharp drop in consumption of chicken and eggs and a loss of growing export market, added BAI in a report.
This scenario is simply unacceptable, just when the country is enjoying the longest period of uninterrupted GDP growth in a quarter-century as a result of more than six years of government programs, infrastructure projects and economic expansion under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Thus, the government's safety net has not relaxed as constant monitoring and blood sampling is being done particularly in the 20 identified hotspots in the country or areas where there transient migratory birds exist or with highly concentrated domestic duck/chicken population.
The areas are, namely: Zamboanga del Norte; Zamboanga del Sur; Zamboanga City; Zambonga Sibugay; Palawan near Quezon and Narra towns; Pampanga-Candaba swamp; Ilocos Norte-Pagudpud; Cagayan-Aparri; Cebu-Olanggo Island; Negros Occidental-Himamaylan; Isabela-Magat Dam; Agusan del Sur; Agusan del Norte; Surigao del Norte-Lake Mainit; Surigao del Sur; Panay Island-Roxas, Capiz; Sorsogon-Bulan and Matnog; General Santos City; Mindoro Oriental-Naujan; and Cotabato-Liguasan Marsh.
Bird flu campaign in OrNeg
Even though Oriental Negros is not identified as a bird flu hotspot, Mutia nevertheless is determined to pull the net a bit tighter, as he plans to conduct a stepped up avian flu information drive in the three districts in the province in the following months.
"The campaign will be done by district and our target audience will be our key players in the towns and cities, who will be responsible for disseminating the information down to the barangay levels," he said.
Mutia disclosed that he has initially conducted an information campaign in selected areas in the province such as Tanjay City and Bais City.
The said cities are among the areas in the province where there are wetlands, which attract migratory birds and thus, put them at risk of an avian flu infection.
Trained fieldmen of the Provincial Veterinary Office also continue to conduct blood sampling here, he added.
As a preventive measure, Mutia urged homeowners not to place chicken, ducks and pigs together in one area, cage or pen, which is a common practice among local residents.
He also advised the public to immediately report to their local agriculture officer if they notice unusual symptoms among their chickens and other birds.
The national government is resolute in its efforts to pull out all stops to keep the country bird flu-free since once the infection invades the country, the consequences on human health and the country's economy can be staggering, according to authorities. (PIA/RMN)