LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) – The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) assures consumers that chicken meat, eggs, and other poultry products remain safe for human consumption, despite the confirmation of the first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Camaligan, Camarines Sur.
In a statement, the Department of Agriculture (DA), which oversees the BAI, indicated that the H5N9 flu strain can spread rapidly and cause severe conditions among birds; however, it “poses a low risk to humans.”
On Tuesday, the DA’s regional office in Bicol collaborated with the BAI and local government units to implement a seven-kilometer surveillance zone.
They conducted thorough cleaning and disinfection of affected areas to prevent further spread of the virus.
Camaligan Municipal Agricultural Officer Helen Almen reported that immediate quarantine and culling measures were implemented in the town.
“At ground zero, around 16 ducks and 10 chickens were culled. Swabbing and blood sample collection from affected birds are ongoing to ensure the infection is controlled and to prevent a potential outbreak,” Almen told the Philippine Information Agency.
Almen added that the Municipal Agriculture Office is also conducting virus tracing.
“The avian carrier may have come from migratory birds or human travelers, although that is considered highly unlikely,” she noted.
DA Regional Executive Director Rodel Tornilla ordered the activation of the command center and convened its Regional Quick Response Team to implement disease control protocols.
Preliminary results from the quarantine office indicated no additional cases 14 days after the first confirmed case on April 30.
Almen advised poultry communities in the town to continue observing strict sanitation, disinfection, and precautionary measures. (PIA Bicol)
