July 7, 2023

Capiz, Philippines, free of avian influenza

The province of Capiz, the Philippines, has been declared free of avian influenza or bird flu.

Department of Agriculture (DA) Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban issued Memorandum Circular No. 27 certifying that Capiz is now free from the virus.

The first case of bird flu was detected in Barangay Dayaw in Roxas City on December 2 last year. Chicken layer and ducks were affected.

"Continued disease monitoring and surveillance in the one-kilometer and 7km surveillance zones surrounding the affected farms yielded negative test results for influenza type A virus," Panganiban said.

The World Organization for Animal Health said the avian influenza-free status of a previously free country or zone may be regained after a minimum period of 28 days and a stamping-out policy has been completed.

Last month, the DA declared Batangas as free from bird flu. Additionally, the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) said only parts of Central Luzon and the Cordillera Administrative Region remain affected by bird flu.

The BAI said these are in Magalang, San Fernando City and Arayat in Pampanga and Rizal town in Kalinga.

- Philstar