Agency monitors migratory birds in W. Visayas due to bird flu

The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Western Visayas has identified priority sites in the region where migratory birds flock as a precautionary measure amid the reported bird flu outbreak in Luzon.

The DA Region 6 regulatory division chief and Western Visayas Inter-Agency Taskforce for Animal Disease focal person Dr. Jonic Natividad, in an interview Wednesday, said these areas are in the municipalities of Sara, Dumangas, Ajuy and Concepcion in Iloilo province; Sipalay City in Negros Occidental; Sibalom in Antique; and Barangay Bugnay in Jordan, Guimaras.

“We are not allowed to touch the migratory birds but we take blood samples of chicken and ducks in the surrounding areas. Every six months we collect over 930 samples that we send either to Manila or Cebu for laboratory tests. So far, none of them tested positive,” he said.

Natividad said the outbreak of the avian flu in Luzon was discovered after a series of blood tests taken from ducks in a farm that sought accreditation with the DA.

Ducks are being left to fend on their own and usually converge with migratory birds at the Candaba swamp in Pampanga, the biggest water body within an island, he said.

“It has come to our attention that it (bird flu virus) has gradually spread and there have been index cases in several areas in Luzon,” he said.

Two weeks ago, he said that DA Regional Executive Director, Engr. Remelyn Recoter, has already convened the provincial veterinarians and some stakeholders with the presence of officials from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) to discuss the movement, restrictions and protocols in light of the outbreak.

He added that while DA Secretary William Dar has already signed an order for the temporary ban of all live birds from mainland Luzon and in areas with bird flu outbreaks while eggs, “balut” (fertilized egg) and other similar products are allowed provided they comply with the necessary safety protocols before being issued with shipping permit.

However, the private sector in the region is lobbying for a temporary stop in the entry of eggs, balut and other similar products until such time that Luzon is free from avian influenza.

Last year, around 14 million eggs were shipped to Western Visayas from Luzon as per data from the animal quarantine, he said.

Natividad said the bird flu is transmissible through droplets and fecal matter. (PNA)