Doctors from the National Avian Influenza Task Force will lead two teams next week in conducting tests on poultry animals in six towns and cities in southern and northern Negros Occidental for possible bird flu contamination by migratory birds.

This is part of the national effort against the entry of the bird flu into the country, Dr. Renante Decena, Negros Occidental provincial veterinarian, said yesterday.

The World Health Organization defines avian influenza as an infectious disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. On rare occasions, these bird viruses can infect other species, including pigs and humans, it adds. Infection causes a wide spectrum of symptoms in birds, ranging from mild illness to a highly contagious and rapidly fatal disease resulting in severe epidemics, the WHO report said.

"Highly pathogenic avian influenza is characterized by sudden onset, severe illness, and rapid death, with a mortality that can approach 100 percent ," WHO said.

"Migratory waterfowl - most notably wild ducks - are the natural reservoir of avian influenza viruses, and these birds are also the most resistant to infection. Domestic poultry, including chickens and turkeys, are particularly susceptible to epidemics of rapidly fatal influenza," WHO added.

The first documented infection of humans with an avian influenza virus occurred in Hong Kong in 1997, when the H5N1 strain caused severe respiratory disease in 18 humans, of whom 6 died, WHO said.

An outbreak of highly pathogenic H7N7 avian influenza, which began in the Netherlands in February 2003, caused the death of one veterinarian two months later, and mild illness in 83 other humans, WHO added.

As a precaution against bird flu entry into Negros Occidental, swabs and blood samples will be taken next week by the task force led by Dr. Reynalda de la Peña from ducks, game cocks, quails, turkeys, geese and poultry exposed to sanctuaries of migratory birds, Decena said.

The team that will go to the south will test poultry in Caradio-an and Cagay in Himamaylan on Monday, Tibsoc and Nayon in San Enrique on Tuesday, and Sampinit and and Lag-asan in Bago on Wednesday.

The team will go to the north will test poultry in Cervantes and Washington in Escalante on Monday, Vito and Bulanon and Sagay on Tuesday, and Banquerohan and Tinampa-an in Cadiz on Wednesday.

He said samples will be taken from five other towns and cities in Negros Occidental other than Himamaylan that was earlier identified by the National Avian Influenza Task Force as one of 20 hotspots nationwide for possible bird flu contamination because the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as areas frequented by migratory birds.

Cervantes in Escalante is within a 1-kilometer radius of a bird sanctuary, he said.*CPG

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