January 14, 2005

Philippines Is Bird Flu-Free

The Department of Agriculture today said there is no bird flu in the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) as reported earlier and that the entire country continues to be free from this dreadful menace.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap made the clarification in view of reports stating that bird flu has erupted in Sagada in the Mountain Province.

He said that based on the report submitted to him by Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) Director Dr. Jose Q. Molina, there is no bird flu case in Sagada.

"Please be informed that as per investigation conducted, there is no such disease affecting our poultry in the locality," Molina said.

Yap however said he has mobilized bird flu prevention task forces all over the country as well as forming quick response teams as far down as the Barangay levels.

Besides, he said, the BAI has finished disease surveillance and monitoring activities in more than 30 provinces of the country and continues to cover other provinces.

Aside from the surveillance teams, field men are trained in detecting bird flu and responding appropriately in the event of an outbreak, Yap said.

Yap said the bureau, in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Parks and Wildlife Bureau, is actively monitoring the movement of migratory birds, which are potential carriers of the virus among water-based fowls.