TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines- Following an outbreak of avian influenza or bird flu in Pampanga, the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Provincial Veterinary Office here intensified the monitoring of the entry of all shipments of poultry products in the Cagayan Valley region.
Dr. Arnulfo Perez of the Cagayan Veterinary Office said checkpoints in Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya and in Sta. Praxedes town here have been task to thoroughly inspect chicken products entering the region to ensure they do not carry the avian influenza virus.
Perez said there is need to strictly monitor the entry of all poultry products particularly those came from Pampanga as precautionary measure against the possible entry of the contaminated products in the region.
Perez advised the public to cook chicken meat well to prevent any illnesses related to the virus and report to the veterinary office those chickens that have died suddenly without apparent causes for inspection and proper disposal.
As additional measures, forester Sandross Colangco of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said they are now monitoring the region’s wetlands and lakes areas which are frequently visited by migratory birds especially during autumn season following reports on the bird flu outbreak in some parts of Central Luzon.
“As of now, we haven’t received any information on the presence of migratory birds in the region,” Colangco said.
The DENR official also warned the public not to catch, eat or collect migratory birds for they may be contaminated with the deadly virus. Oliver Baccay/PIA/Northernforum.net
