Iloilo City extends ban on poultry, egg products until May 24

The Iloilo City government has extended the ban on the entry of poultry and poultry by-products in the metro until May 24, 2022 amid threats of the highly contagious “bird flu”.

Mayor Jerry Treñas issued Executive Order (EO) No. 45 on Tuesday, May 10 extending the temporary ban on poultry and non-poultry animals and poultry by-products following recommendations by the Iloilo City Veterinarian Office

“Relevant government agencies and authorities have yet to issue a statement indicating the eradication and/or effective control of the subject virus thereby necessitating a continued vigilance on the part of local government,” the EO said.

To recall, the mayor issued EO No. 41 on April 19 mandating the temporary ban on the entry of live poultry and non-poultry birds from the affected areas in mainland Luzon and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

The EO was subsequently amended the following day thru EO No. 41-A to include in the temporary banning the entry of egg products as well as expanding the area of coverage of the banning in the entire Luzon.

Under the EO, the entry of live poultry and non-poultry birds including egg products from Luzon is prohibited in the metro from April 20 to May 7, 2022.

The temporary ban shall cover live birds (poultry or non-poultry) particularly all species of all species of live birds except day-old breeder chicks, day-old pullets, and hatching eggs from Luzon.

The EO also prohibits the transport and movement of pigeons for racing, flying, training, breeding, and

Entry of egg products from Luzon such as table eggs, salted eggs, quail eggs, embryonated eggs (balut) is likewise banned.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control, avian influenza or bird flu refers to the disease caused by infection with avian (bird) influenza (flu) Type A viruses. These viruses naturally spread among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species.

Bird flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with bird flu viruses have occurred. These viruses occur naturally among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species. Wild aquatic birds include waterbirds (waterfowl) such as ducks, geese, swans, gulls, and terns, and shorebirds, such as storks, plovers, and sandpipers.

Wild aquatic birds, especially dabbling ducks, are considered reservoirs (hosts) for avian influenza A viruses.

Wild aquatic birds can be infected with avian influenza A viruses in their intestines and respiratory tract, but some species, such as ducks, may not get sick.

However, avian influenza A viruses are very contagious among birds, and some of these viruses can sicken and even kill certain domesticated bird species, including chickens, ducks and turkeys. (DG)