Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.visayandailystar.com/2008/May/20/negor5.htm
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
PDCC to review plan
against avian influenza
BY JUANCHO GALLARDE
The Negros Oriental provincial anti-avian influenza contingency plan will be submitted to the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council for review by the end of May or early June this year, Provincial Veterinarian Antonio Mutia said yesterday.
Mutia said the technical working group is finishing the details of the plan that needs to be approved by the PDCC before its gets forwarded to the Provincial Board for funding.
The development comes on the heels of an anti-avian influenza seminar conducted by the Department of Health through the Provincial Veterinary Office, to equip the different line agencies and local government units in the event of an occurrence and/or an outbreak in Negros Oriental of the dreaded bird flu virus.
At the same time, Mutia is batting for the categorization of avian influenza as a disaster concern and not just a health problem.
He said that, while birds, ducks and chickens are usually infected by the virus, incidents of humans being afflicted by the avian influenza have already been reported.
The bird flu virus, especially the H5N1 strain, can have serious implications on human health, he added.
Mutia also said that the master anti-avian influenza contingency plan includes, among other things, aggressive monitoring and surveillance of areas that are high-risk to bird flu outbreak, such as those frequently visited by migratory birds; a rapid action team properly trained to act as first line responders in the event of a reported bird flu case; border control and quarantine measures at ports and other entry points in the province.
Mutia said there has to be constant monitoring of possible smuggling of exotic birds that could be carriers of the bird flu virus.
Migratory flocks of birds that come from cold countries should also be under close surveillance and monitoring, he added.
To date, the Philippines remains bird flu-free but Mutia cautioned against complacency, saying that Indonesia, a very close neighbor, already has reported cases of avian influenza.*JG
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
PDCC to review plan
against avian influenza
BY JUANCHO GALLARDE
The Negros Oriental provincial anti-avian influenza contingency plan will be submitted to the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council for review by the end of May or early June this year, Provincial Veterinarian Antonio Mutia said yesterday.
Mutia said the technical working group is finishing the details of the plan that needs to be approved by the PDCC before its gets forwarded to the Provincial Board for funding.
The development comes on the heels of an anti-avian influenza seminar conducted by the Department of Health through the Provincial Veterinary Office, to equip the different line agencies and local government units in the event of an occurrence and/or an outbreak in Negros Oriental of the dreaded bird flu virus.
At the same time, Mutia is batting for the categorization of avian influenza as a disaster concern and not just a health problem.
He said that, while birds, ducks and chickens are usually infected by the virus, incidents of humans being afflicted by the avian influenza have already been reported.
The bird flu virus, especially the H5N1 strain, can have serious implications on human health, he added.
Mutia also said that the master anti-avian influenza contingency plan includes, among other things, aggressive monitoring and surveillance of areas that are high-risk to bird flu outbreak, such as those frequently visited by migratory birds; a rapid action team properly trained to act as first line responders in the event of a reported bird flu case; border control and quarantine measures at ports and other entry points in the province.
Mutia said there has to be constant monitoring of possible smuggling of exotic birds that could be carriers of the bird flu virus.
Migratory flocks of birds that come from cold countries should also be under close surveillance and monitoring, he added.
To date, the Philippines remains bird flu-free but Mutia cautioned against complacency, saying that Indonesia, a very close neighbor, already has reported cases of avian influenza.*JG