Dr. Alberto Venturina advised all mayors in 11 towns and a city of the mobilization of the task force as one of the measures laid-out by the Department of Agriculture in Region 3 to prevent the entry of the deadly avian influenza virus (mutant H5) in the province.
The veterinarian said the task force has been approved by the Bataan Sangguniang Panlalawigan some years ago.
“We have to reactivate it per directive of Gov. Albert Garcia so that every member will be reminded of his role and responsibility,” he said.
Composing the task force are poultry and game fowl breeders, non-governmental organizations, municipal agriculturists, among some others.
Venturina said there are 166 broiler farms in Bataan producing more than five million broilers every 28 to 35 days, eight layers farms with 129,500 layer-capacity and a number of game fowl farms.
He said he has informed broiler, game fowl and duck farms to implement strict security measures.
“Huwag magpapasok ng bagong stock lalo na sa game fowl farms. Dapat restricted movement ng mga tao. Tanungin kung saan galing ang mga bumibisita at baka galing sa lugar na infected. Dapat merong regular disinfection, better every day,” the provincial veterinarian said.
On 21 members of his provincial staff , Venturina instructed them to closely monitor poultry and game fowl farms.
“Lahat ng magrereport na may mortality sa kanilang farm, kailangan puntahan agad. Kunin ang buong istorya tulad ng ilan ang namatay, kailan nagsimula ang pagkamatay, total population at ilan ang namamatay araw-araw,” he told his staff.
Venturina also told his men to get samples for laboratory test to determine the cause of death. “Kapag nakuha confirmatory diagnosis, madaling ma-prevent o ma-treat ang dapat na ma-treat,” he said.
He showed disposable protective gears that are ready in his office for use of his men on inspection of poultry and other feathered animal farms.
Venturina also announced that he will place disinfectants in the office of the provincial veterinarian at the Capitol compound.
“Lahat bago pumasok at lumabas, may disinfection muna. Ang mag-momonitor ng mga poultry farms kailangang ma-disinfect ang sapatos at service vehicles,” he said.
