Panganiban

Rizal province now free from bird flu – DA

January 6, 2023 Cory Martinez 245 views

THE province of Rizal is now free from Avian Influenza or “bird flu.”

Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban issued DA Circular No. 1 declaring Rizal province as “Avian Influenza-Free Status.”

The declaration was based on Article 10.4.6 of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Terrestrial Animal Health Code (2021), which provides that “the Avian Influenza free status of a previously free country or zone may be regained.”

This is after a minimum period of 28 days after a stamping-out policy has been completed, disinfection of the last affected establishment was carried out, and consequent surveillance demonstrated the absence of infection.

The DA Regional Field Office, DA Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), and the local government unit (LGU) jointly conducted disease control measures such as stamping out, cleaning and disinfection, and other quarantine activities to manage the risk of further infection.

The Avian Influenza Protection (AIPP) with Rizal Province yielded negative test results.

More than 40 days have also elapsed since the end of the clean-up, and disinfection operations and surveillance has been carried out following the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Code.

Last June 29, July 12, and July 15, 2022, the Rizal province recorded confirmed cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Subtype H5N1 in the municipality of Rodriguez affecting a commercial chicken layer farm, a backyard free-range chicken farm, and a commercial contract grower farm.

To prevent the entry of HPAI virus and protect the local poultry industry, the DA also issued memorandum orders on Dec. 29, 2022 to temporarily ban the importation of domestic and wild birds and poultry products from countries with confirmed AI virus outbreaks.

The importation of domestic and wild birds and their products, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen, from Poland, Ireland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Chinese Taipei, Ecuador, Moldova, and Peru is banned until the order is revoked.

Panganiban also ordered the immediate suspension of the processing, evaluation of the application, and issuance of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) import clearance to the above-stated commodities.

AI is a highly contagious viral disease that affects both domestic and wild birds. HPAI, on the other hand, can cause severe clinical signs and possible high mortality rates, especially in domestic poultry.

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