May 12, 2005

Philippines on high alert to keep out bird flu

The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) is stepping up efforts to reduce the risk avian influenza poses to the country.

South Sulawesi which was recently hit by the disease and is in very close proximity to the country presents a real threat where the Philippines could get the virus.

So far, the government has established the National Avian Influenza Task Force to help the country contain itself from the disease. The import of live animals from South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia has also been banned.

The DA has also urged private and government sectors to work together in maintaining the country's status of being free of bird flu, and preventing the same economic losses that have occurred in other countries because of the virus.