Avian flu scare
THE Philippine government has banned the importation of poultry, hatching eggs, semen and other poultry products from two European countries.
The prestigious World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) had earlier received reports of the outbreak of avian flu in Belgium and France.
Immediately, Department of Agriculture (DA) authorities reacted by imposing the ban on poultry imports from the two European countries.
Admittedly, the outbreak of the Highly-Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Belgium and France worries the people, notably the poultry workers.
“We are doing this (ban) to protect the health of our local poultry population as well as poultry workers and consumers,” according to DA.
In fact, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. , a close friend of President Marcos, said H5WI is a virus that can be transmitted to humans.
Under the order, traders are banned from bringing in Belgian and French poultry meat, day-old chicks, hatching eggs and poultry semen into the country.
Government records show that last year, the country’s poultry meat importation totaled 426,620 metric tons worth $418,130,353.
Reports reaching Asia, including impoverished Philippines, said that the sight is frightening in countries where there are avian flu cases
“Talagang nakakaalarma dahil kung makarating sa atin ang sakit na ito ay marami ang maaapektuhan,” said a small-time poultry farm owner.
That’s why we, like other well-meaning Filipinos, commend the DA for imposing the ban on meat imports from the two European nations.
