The Department of Agriculture (DA) under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said it is intensifying measures to contain the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, following the recent case of bird flu in a Bulacan farm.
DA-Bureau of Animal Industry Assistant Director Arlene Asteria Vytiaco said they are reinforcing control measures to prevent a spike in bird flu cases, including immediate depopulation and intensive surveillance in the 1-kilometer quarantine zone at a layer poultry farm hit by HPAI Subtype H5N1 in Bulacan.
“Ini-intensify natin ang ating control measures para huwag nang maranasan ’yong last year na talagang tumaas ang kaso natin ng February until March to April,” Vytiaco said, adding that the case has been resolved.
The 1-kilometer radius will be expanded to 7-kilometer surveillance.
The government has already allocated over P177 million for the Avian Influenza Protection Program this year.
This aims to accelerate the early detection of bird flu, improve the laboratory diagnostics, and prevent the spread of the virus. – Katrina Gracia Consebido-ag
