The Department of Agriculture (DA) confirmed on Monday the detection of H5N6 strain of bird flu in Nueva Ecija, following the reported increased deaths of quails in a farm in Brgy. Ulanin-Pitak.
Following the results of laboratory tested samples, the DA immediately conducted the depopulation of 12 thousand quails to prevent the spread of the virus.
“DA and LGU officials are currently conducting disease investigation and contact tracing of the source of infection,” DA Sec. William Dar said.
The Philippines last experienced the virus infection last 2017. The DA is looking into the possibility of recurrence brought by migratory birds. The spread of the bird flu has been recently reported in China.
The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) said H5N6 maybe transmittable to humans through direct contact from infected birds, and that fever and other influenza-like symptoms maybe felt.
“It is true that may possibility na makapagtransmit ang H5N6 (The H5N6 has possibility to be transmitted). Pero kung titingnan natin ang history from (but if we look at the history from) countries affected since 2014, China lang po ang nagkakaroon ng human case (only China had human cases) and that’s limited to only four,” BAI Vet IV Dr. Arlene Asteria Vytiaco explained.
The DA said it will be intensifying its testing and affected farms will not be able to transport products.
The agriculture department has placed under surveillance the seven-kilometer radius of the affected area. It also assured there is an ample supply of quail since only one farm is confirmed to be affected by the avian flu. – Report from Cleizl Pardilla
