February 14, 2007
Death of migratory bird found in Philippine province, negative from avian influenza
The Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) declared that the dead intermediate egret (Egretta intermedia sp.) or heron found in the province of Sorsogon is negative from avian influenza even if laboratory tests were not conducted since no clinical signs of bird flu have been detected.
According to the Manila Bulletin daily, DENR Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) avian influenza team chief Carlo Custodio said all indications do not point to a positive case of the dreaded H5N1 virus in the death of the sick egret from Japan found in Sorsogon last February 7.
Custodio said that if it was a case of bird flu, many birds would have died.
He said that the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) has yet to issue an order to exhume the bird.
The bird found in the town of Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon was however buried without undergoing tests.
BAI Animal Health Division chief and Avian Influenza Task Force national coordinator Dr Samuel Animas said that based on reports that the department received, the bird does not need further testing since all clinical signs of an avian influenza-inflicted bird were not evident.
But PAWB Director Dr Theresa Mundita Lim said that there was a violation of protocol in the handling of the sick migratory bird.
Lim said protocol was important, particularly because the bird reportedly came from Japan, where the presence of a highly pathogenic strain of the avian influenza was reported last month.
DENR Secretary Angelo Reyes had earlier directed his regional officials nationwide to be vigilant in monitoring the entry of imported birds in the country, as well as wetland areas where migratory birds congregate.
Reyes said though the country is bird-flu free, the threat of the virus is still present since an upsurge of bird flu outbreaks and occurrence of new cases are prevalent in Asia, Europe and Africa.
