January 31, 2007

Philippine province of Bulacan warned of bird flu occurrence

Authorities at the province of Bulacan called on duck raisers and other free-range poultry raisers to refrain from letting their birds graze in areas near the edge of the Candaba swamp to prevent them from acquiring avian-flu virus that might possibly be brought in by migratory birds that use the area as temporary sanctuary.

According to Business Mirror daily, poultry animals from the municipalities of San Miguel, San Ildefonso, San Rafael, Baliuag, Plaridel, Pulilan, Calumpit, Hagonoy and Paombong are prohibited to roam freely from October to April as migratory flocks transfer to the Philippine territory to temporarily escape from the cold weather from bird-flu infected areas such as China and Vietnam.   

Bulacan provincial veterinarian Felipe Bartolome also reminded poultry breeders that a provincial ordinance, otherwise known as the Avian Influenza Prevention and Control Ordinance, was passed last year and is now in effect in the province.

The ordinance prohibits poultry from roaming in and near areas frequented by migratory birds, as well as buying, selling and possession of unregistered exotic birds.

Bartolome added that a provincial avian influenza task force was also created to be the main authority to oversee the implementation of the provisions of the ordinance and other related activities as may be provided by rules and regulations and guidelines promulgated by higher authorities or mandated by the national laws.

Violators of the provincial ordinance face penalties of P1,000 (US$20.42) to P5,000 (US$102.31) or imprisonment of one month to one year, or both fine and prison term upon the discretion of the court.

A two-day seminar workshop on Stay Bird Flu Free Philippines was also held last week in Pampanga, which was organized by the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) under the auspices of Unicef.

Meanwhile, the first Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RADDL) in the country will be inaugurated in Pampanga next month.

This, despite the fact that the country remains bird flu-free, although under threat of a possible bird-flu pandemic that usually occurs in the intervals of between 30 to 40 years and it is absent for 37 years now.