Default Thumbnail

DA: CamSur now bird flu-free

July 8, 2022 Cory Martinez 233 views

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) recently declared the province of Camarines Sur as an “Avian Influenza Free” (AIF) province.

The declaration was made after the province yielded negative results and that more than 40 days have already elapsed since the end of the disinfection operations, and surveillance has been carried out.

It will be recalled that on February 20, 2022, the DA regional office in Bicol received reports on high poultry mortality in Bula and Sipocot, Camarines Sur.

DA Bicol Regional Executive Director Rodel P. Tornilla reactivated the DA 5 Avian Influenza (AI) Task Force and, in coordination with the concerned LGUs (local government units), conducted disease investigation and sample collection within the one-kilometer radius from “ground zero” or the affected areas.

A total of 3,091 samples were collected and submitted to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BA).

Out of these samples, two samples from Sagrada, Bula were found to be positive with AI H5N1 by the BAI.

The DA Avian Influenza task force and the Bula LGU immediately conducted depopulation, cleaning, and disinfection, movement restrictions, and surveillance in the affected areas.

Monitoring and surveillance were carried out continuously, and results of subsequent disease monitoring in the 1-kilometer and 7-kilometer surveillance zones in Camarines Sur yielded negative test results for the Avian Influenza virus.

AUTHOR PROFILE