February 23, 2022

Philippines detects bird flu in duck and quail farms

The Philippines' Department of Agriculture said it has confirmed highly pathogenic H5N1 strains of avian influenza in some duck and quail farms near the capital of Manila, Reuters reported.

The department announced the country was free of the H5N6 virus in January 2021, citing a World Organisation for Animal Health declaration.

The cases were detected in the Bulacan and Pampanga provinces. All birds affected been culled to prevent the spread of the virus.

Quarantine zones have been implemented in affected farms.

Reildrin Morales, director of the department's Bureau of Animal Industry, said the virus has not been detected in chickens and turkeys.

-      Reuters