Rizal province now bird flu-free, says DA

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has declared the province of Rizal avian influenza-free.

In a statement, the DA said Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban issued Memorandum Circular No. 1, declaring Rizal bird flu-free.

The decision was based on Article 10.4.6 of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Terrestrial Animal Health Code (2021), which provides that the Avian Influenza free status of a previously free country or zone may be regained, according to the Agriculture department.

The declaration was made after a stamping-out policy was completed, disinfection of the last affected establishment was carried out, and consequent surveillance demonstrated the absence of infection for a minimum period of 28 days.

The DA said its Regional Field Office, the DA Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), and the local government unit (LGU) jointly conducted disease control measures such as stamping out, cleaning and disinfection, and other quarantine activities to effectively manage the risk of further infection.

The Avian Influenza Protection Program (AIPP) in Rizal yielded negative test results, it said.

More than 40 days have also elapsed since the end of the clean-up and disinfection operations, and surveillance has been carried out in accordance with the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Code, it added.

Last June 29, July 12, and July 15, 2022, the province recorded confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) subtype H5N1 in the Municipality of Rodriguez, affecting a commercial chicken layer farm, a backyard free-range chicken farm, and a commercial contract grower farm.

To prevent the entry of HPAI virus and protect the local poultry industry, the DA also issued memorandum orders on December 29, 2022, to temporarily ban the importation of domestic and wild birds and poultry products from countries with confirmed AI virus outbreaks.

The importation of domestic and wild birds and their products, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen, from Poland, Ireland, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Chinese Taipei, Ecuador, Moldova, and Peru is banned until the order is revoked.

Panganiban also ordered the immediate suspension of the processing, evaluation of the application, and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) import clearance for the above-stated commodities.

AI is a highly contagious viral disease that affects both domestic and wild birds.

HPAI, on the other hand, can cause severe clinical signs and possible high mortality rates, especially in domestic poultry.  —VBL, GMA Integrated News