Bird flu outbreak in Leyte already contained — DA

The reported outbreak of avian influenza or bird flu on a poultry farm in Leyte province is already contained as thousands of birds were already culled, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Friday.

“Mahigit sa 50,000 din ‘yung na-cull na at contained na itong area natin sa Leyte,” DA Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Arnel de Mesa said in an interview on GMA Integrated News’ Balitanghali.

(Over 50,000 birds have already been culled and the area in Leyte is already contained.)

De Mesa said the DA notified the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) about the results of laboratory testing, which confirmed on March 19 that birds on the poultry farm tested positive for highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza.

Based on WOAH’s report, citing the Philippine Agriculture Department, the virus affected 4,475 birds out of a flock of 60,529.

Affected birds were broiler breeders, according to de Mesa.

“Ito ay ordinary case lang… kasi na-contain naman agad ang area (This is an ordinary case… since the area was immediately contained,” the DA official said.

In total, de Mesa said nearly 60,000 birds were killed due to the virus, including those that were culled as a measure to prevent the H1N1 avian influenza from further spreading.

The DA has temporarily banned importation of birds and poultry products from several countries such as Japan, Belgium and France due to H1N5 outbreaks. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News