June 8, 2006

New Zealand to aid Philippine's efforts to prevent bird flu

New Zealand would help boost Philippine efforts in preventing a local outbreak of bird flu by financing a nationwide census of its poultry population, the Department of Agriculture said Thursday (Jun 8).

Agriculture Secretary Domingo Panganiban said New Zealand has committed to providing a financial aid of US$390,000 to help strengthen the country's diagnostic surveillance for bird flu.

In addition to a national census of the poultry population, the grant would also help finance the Philippines in conducting and producing targeted surveillance studies and laboratory tests, the results of which can be validated by a reference laboratory.

"We cannot afford to allow bird flu reach our shores," Panganiban said, adding that the local poultry industry generates an annual gross revenue of around PHP108 billion (US$2 billion).

The Philippines has remained free from bird flu so far.

According to World Health Organization, bird flu has claimed the lives of 128 people across Asian since 2003.