August 5, 2024

Benguet, Philippines provincial government bans poultry imports from neighbouring Capas amid bird flu concerns

The provincial government of Benguet, Philippines, has announced a ban on the entry of poultry and poultry products from Capas town in Tarlac province, Philippines, due to concerns over bird flu, The Philippine Star reported.

Benguet Governor Melchor Diclas implemented the restriction after receiving reports of high mortality among layer culls at an establishment in Shilan, La Trinidad. Laboratory results from samples collected by the provincial veterinary office on June 27 confirmed the presence of avian influenza (H5N1).

The affected layer culls were reported to have originated from Barangay Sto Rosario in Capas. The ban will remain in effect until further notice to curb the potential spread of bird flu.

Governor Diclas stated that if similar cases are detected in other areas, similar measures will be enforced.

The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) has indicated that it has not received any official reports of a bird flu outbreak from local authorities in Tarlac. The last confirmed case in the province was reported in December 2023.

Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) spokesperson Arnel de Mesa supported the BAI's stance, suggesting that the poultry mortality in the area might be due to other diseases. He also mentioned ongoing efforts to expedite the approval of vaccines against avian influenza.

Despite the reported outbreak, De Mesa assured that the supply of eggs remains stable.

-      The Philippine Star