Philippines detects bird flu after 2 years of no cases

Photo Courtesy: pia.gov.ph

The deadly animal disease returns in the Philippines after 2 years, killing as much as 12,000 quails in Jaen, Nueva Ecija.

The Department of Agriculture confirmed on Monday the discovery of the bird flu in a barangay in Jaen.

Last week, the Provincial Veterinary Office received reports of fatalities of 1,500 out of 15,000 quails on a farm in Barangay Ulanin-Pitak, Jaen, Nueva Ecija.

It was later shown in tests that it was caused by H5N6 subtype of the influenza A virus.

Department of Agriculture Secretary William Dar stated that they are already making moves to contain the spread of the avian flu.

“Surveillance around the 1-km and 7-km radius will be carried out immediately to ensure that the disease has not progressed around the said perimeter. Animal quarantine checkpoints have also been established to restrict the movement of all live domestic birds to and from the 1-km radius quarantine area,” Agriculture Secretary Dar said

“We will ensure that the incidence will be contained effectively and swiftly to prevent the occurrence of the unfortunate outbreak a few years ago,” he added.

The last detection of the virus in the country was back in August 2017 which ended in September 2017.