Protecting the multi-billion poultry industry and food security in Pampanga, Gov. Dennis ‘Delta’ Pineda has gathered stakeholders on Monday, February 21, to further control bird flu incidents that have been contained in a few farms in Candaba and Mexico towns since January.

“Lahat po tayo may papel para lalong ma-control and ma-save ang poultry industry natin,” Governor Pineda said in a briefing on avian influenza held a day after Agriculture Secretary William Dar announced the successful control of bird flu among quails and ducks in Bulacan and Pampanga. Around 50,000 birds were culled by local governments.

Dr. Augusto Baluyut, provincial veterinarian, said the quick responses in 2017 and 2020 helped limit and eradicate the H5N6, a virus that affects birds only.

The virus H5N1was tested positive in quails and ducks for the first time in the two provinces although it had been detected since 1997 in many parts of the world, according to Dr. Glofezita Lagayan of the Bureau of Animal Industry.

Dr. Ida Gloria Felix, Department of Health, said there is “no known transmission of the H5N1 to humans or vice versa.”

The provincial action plan requires implementation of biosecurity and disinfection, isolation and quarantine, surveillance and reporting of incidents within 24 hours. The provincial task force consisting of Provincial Veterinary Office and BAI was placed on a 24/7 operations in an office at the Provincial Engineering Cmpound.

Gov. Pineda established control points by BAI and the PNP within one-kilometer of laboratry-confirmed farms. Big and backyard farms within the said control points must first present BAI-negative tests before their birds are allowed to be hauled outside of the control points.