CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The chief of the only government bird flu laboratory in Central Luzon said yesterday that all measures against avian flu are “in place” and that the country has so far remained free from the dreaded ailment following negative results in tests on some 7,000 randomly picked fowls.
But Dr. Eduardo Lapuz, chief of the Department of Agriculture’s Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory here, admitted that the thousands of wild birds which have again migrated to various parts of the country, including the Candaba swamp in this province, comprise the weakest link the country’s anti-avian flu defense system.
Lapuz said that blood and cloacal swab samples from some 7,000 fowls have been examined by his laboratory and all tested negative for the H5N1 avian flu virus.
Bird flu concerns have again surfaced after a 59-year-old woman in Hong Kong tested positive for H5N1, prompting health officials there to raise health emergency level to serious.
The victim reportedly visited markets in mainland China and ate local chicken, although she did not have any contact with live poultry.
Lapuz said that all ports of entry in the country are on high alert against the entry of both live and dressed fowl, especially those from countries listed by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) as potential sources of contaminated birds.
The list, he said, is based on the recommendation of the France-based L’organization Internationale des Epizooties (OIE) or World Animal Health Organization.
He noted that even the movement of ducks and poultry from one province to another is being closely monitored by provincial veterinarians, as “shipping permits” are required for such movements.
“Mostly affected by this requirement are duck raisers whose practice is to transport their ducks to newly harvested ricefields in nearby provinces for grazing purposes for about six months,” he noted.
Lapuz said that while strict measures at ports and in the movement of fowls are being strictly enforced, bird flu virus could still enter the country through the migratory birds escaping from harsh winter in nearby countries.
“This is the reason why we conduct most of our laboratory tests on blood and cloacal samples during the month of September before the wild birds fly in, and then in March or April after they have gone,” he said.
Lapuz noted that distancing both humans and local fowls from wild birds would be the only preventive measure to avoid possible contamination. “There are quarantine areas in bird sanctuaries such as in Candaba swamp where Mayor Jerry Pelayo has been effective in enforcing anti-bird flu measures,” he added.
Lapus noted that since his laboratory was established here in February 2007, no samples from local fowl tested for H5N1. He said that the laboratory here is the first in the entire northern Luzon, although another one is now operational in Tuguegarao City.
“There was initially a plan of the government to establish more laboratories in other provinces, but this was overtaken by concerns over the swine flu virus or H1N1,” he recalled.
But Dr. Eduardo Lapuz, chief of the Department of Agriculture’s Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory here, admitted that the thousands of wild birds which have again migrated to various parts of the country, including the Candaba swamp in this province, comprise the weakest link the country’s anti-avian flu defense system.
Lapuz said that blood and cloacal swab samples from some 7,000 fowls have been examined by his laboratory and all tested negative for the H5N1 avian flu virus.
Bird flu concerns have again surfaced after a 59-year-old woman in Hong Kong tested positive for H5N1, prompting health officials there to raise health emergency level to serious.
The victim reportedly visited markets in mainland China and ate local chicken, although she did not have any contact with live poultry.
Lapuz said that all ports of entry in the country are on high alert against the entry of both live and dressed fowl, especially those from countries listed by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) as potential sources of contaminated birds.
The list, he said, is based on the recommendation of the France-based L’organization Internationale des Epizooties (OIE) or World Animal Health Organization.
He noted that even the movement of ducks and poultry from one province to another is being closely monitored by provincial veterinarians, as “shipping permits” are required for such movements.
“Mostly affected by this requirement are duck raisers whose practice is to transport their ducks to newly harvested ricefields in nearby provinces for grazing purposes for about six months,” he noted.
Lapuz said that while strict measures at ports and in the movement of fowls are being strictly enforced, bird flu virus could still enter the country through the migratory birds escaping from harsh winter in nearby countries.
“This is the reason why we conduct most of our laboratory tests on blood and cloacal samples during the month of September before the wild birds fly in, and then in March or April after they have gone,” he said.
Lapuz noted that distancing both humans and local fowls from wild birds would be the only preventive measure to avoid possible contamination. “There are quarantine areas in bird sanctuaries such as in Candaba swamp where Mayor Jerry Pelayo has been effective in enforcing anti-bird flu measures,” he added.
Lapus noted that since his laboratory was established here in February 2007, no samples from local fowl tested for H5N1. He said that the laboratory here is the first in the entire northern Luzon, although another one is now operational in Tuguegarao City.
“There was initially a plan of the government to establish more laboratories in other provinces, but this was overtaken by concerns over the swine flu virus or H1N1,” he recalled.
