Agusan prepares to keep province bird flu free

by Jose Jemuel B. Dael

AGUSAN DEL SUR (2 November) — The provincial government is now prepared to avert possible outbreak of avian influenza or most commonly known as bird-flu especially that the province is in the path of migrating birds and is close to countries with bird-flu infection.

According to Provincial Veterinary Officer Dr. Joriz Elevazo, the action made is in response to the call of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Agriculture Secretary Domingo Panganiban who recently announced that the government is embarking on an intensive multi-pronged strategy to keep the Philippines bird-flu free.

Bird flu is a highly contagious disease caused by viruses that normally infect birds or avian species. While all bird species are thought to be susceptible to infection, domestic poultry flocks are especially vulnerable to infections that can rapidly reach epidemic proportions.

The H5N1 is the strain of bird-flu virus that commonly affects neighboring Asia nations and part of Europe countries. It is transmitted to domesticated poultry flocks through direct contact with secretions, especially feces from infected birds

Since Agusan del Sur is the home of Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, which is the largest marshland in the country, it is expected that thousands of migratory birds will arrive in the last quarter of the year coming from southern countries to escape the severe winter season

Dr. Elevazo said that the Provincial Veterinary Office has readied the preparedness program in partnerships with the Department of Agriculture and Local Government Units to execute counter measures against the bird-flu threat in the wake of mounting fears that thousands of people could die if an outbreak would occur.

“The provincial government under the stewardship of Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza appropriated some P375, 000 to finance the bird-flu proliferation preparedness program”, Elevazo said.

He added that the preparedness program includes creating a task force to monitor possible entry zone in the province such as the Agusan marsh and poultry farms. The said task force will also embark on massive information dissemination regarding bird-flu to some barangays in the province.

“Our office will produce 5,000 to 10,000 copies of flyers containing vital information about bird-flu, translated into bisayan dialect”, Elevazo added.

Dr. Elevazo also encourage the people living near the marsh land to refrain from harboring wild birds because it might be a carrier of the infectious bird-flu virus, which poses great threat to both human and domesticated poultry. He added that the people should be vigilant and report immediately to PVO, DA or to local authorities any uncommon deaths in their domesticated poultry for immediate actions.

“Once we received reports of uncommon deaths, we will immediately visit the place and conduct blood sampling, which would be sent to the Bureau of Animal Industry for testing. Our Provincial Veterinary Office is equipped with essential facilities for the blood sampling and storage of such samples”, Elevazo said. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)