CEBU CITY - The Department of Agriculture has warned gamefowl and poultry breeders in Negros Occidental to maintain cleanliness and promote healthy sanitation in their farms, following an avian influenza outbreak in Indonesia recently.

Dr. Laarni Cabantac of the Department of Agriculture, told the DAILY STAR in an interview Wednesday, that gamefowl breeders and poultry owners in Negros Occidental, should also report any signs of sickness in their fowls to local agricultural and veterinary offices. Cabantac, an assistant coordinator of the National Avian Influenza Task Force, Bureau of Animal Industry, said the Philippines remains on alert status after the avian influenza, also known as bird flu hit Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.

She said the bird flu, which is caused by the influenza virus that occurs naturally among wild birds, has not yet affected the country. She said the DA, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Health and other concerned government agencies have been conducting massive public awareness seminars and fora on how to prevent the entry of bird flu in the country.

Last year, the Department of Agriculture collected a total of 3,542 blood samples and 853 pooled cloacal swabs from native chickens, gamefowls and ducks from 22 provinces, 56 municipalities and 6 cities and 88 barangays in the country. All samples yielded results negative of bird flu, she added.

Cabantac also spoke at the "Stay Bird Flu Philippines" two-day seminar-workshop here Wednesday that was participated in by 15 journalists from Visayas.

Symptoms for bird flu in poultry or other birds are les swelling, sneezing with nasal discharge, fever, cough, loss of appetite, ruffled feather, with crown and wattle turning purple and sudden death, Reynaldo Viray, Bird Flu Coordinator in Region 7 said.

Yray said gamefowl breeders and poultry owners should wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling fowls, keep chickens in cages and pens. He said non-breeders and non-poultry owners should also not catch, get near or keep in captivity wild birds, and report to veterinary office any unusual death or illness of chickens and other birds.

Yray who is in charge of the Olango Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary here, said migratory birds are common carriers of bird flu. He said about 10,000 migratory birds, consisting of 30 species, seek refuge in the sanctuary during winter.

Himamaylan City, one of the Top 20 priority areas for surveillance of migratory birds, had been found negative of bird flu, Yray said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy, of the Emergening and Re-emerging Infections Disease Prevention and Control said the DOH programs on what to do in the possible widespread transmission of bird flu from migratory birds to native birds and from birds to human.*DMG

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