(PNA file photo)
DAVAO CITY – The City Veterinarian Office (CVO) confirmed Thursday that the city remains free from avian or bird flu.
The statement came after the initial monitoring of the CVO that showed negative results in samples taken from some poultry farms in the city.
"Based on our monitoring and from the samples from some farms within the city, the results are negative," said Dr. Cerelyn Pinili, the CVO head.
Last month, the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) detected cases of bird flu in Baliwag, Bulacan, and recorded a similar outbreak in Candaba and Mexico towns in Pampanga.
On March 10, BAI confirmed another outbreak in Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat, where 1,000 ducks had been culled.
The DA also issued Memorandum Circular No. 6 mandating that the transfer of live birds from Luzon to Visayas and Mindanao are temporarily suspended for 30 days.
"We focus our surveillance in Talomo and Tugbok areas where the concentration of commercial poultry farms are located," Pinili said.
She said strict measures are in place for any entry of poultry products from Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat - the nearest avian flu hit area to the city.
Pinili said more checkpoints have been placed at entry points from North Cotabato to Davao City and Buda and Marilog areas, including the Arakan - Dalaglumot, Marilog border
She added that the entry of poultry from regions free from avian flu is allowed provided that documentary requirements are complete.
She said avian flu can affect not only commercial poultry but also fowl such as game fowls, broilers, pigeons, quails, turkey, ducks, and migratory birds.
Pinili confirmed that there is no case of poultry to human transmission recorded in the city or even in avian flu-hit areas. (PNA)
