Philippines culls nearly 39,000 chicken to contain bird flu outbreak

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, July 29, 2020
Adjust font size:

MANILA, July 29 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines has culled 38,701 chickens after detecting highly-pathogenic avian influenza strain in a poultry farm in a town north of Manila, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Wednesday.

The DA's Bureau of Animal Industry confirmed on Wednesday that it has detected A(H5N6) bird flu virus in a poultry layer or egg-producing farm in San Luis town in Pampanga province.

Already, the department said it has sent a team to conduct a disease surveillance around the infected farm and quickly implemented disease control measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

"The team humanely culled a total of 38,701 head of layers and disposed them off properly, employing the protocols under the Avian Influenza Protection Program of the Philippine government," said the bureau director Ronnie Domingo.

Domingo said the presence of migratory birds in San Luis town could be the source of the virus.

"Initial field investigation showed the presence in San Luis of migratory birds, which has been associated with bird flu outbreaks in many countries, including the Philippines," he said.

Domingo said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has identified 117 important bird areas in the country, and about 150,000 migratory birds nest and breed annually in the central main island of Luzon.

He urged poultry raisers in the Central Luzon region to be vigilant to protect and shield their farms from the entry of migratory birds.

In August 2017, the Philippines reported an outbreak of bird flu in a poultry farm in Pampanga province. At least 400,000 birds were slaughtered to contain the spread of the poultry disease. Enditem

Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.
ChinaNews App Download
Print E-mail Bookmark and Share

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)

No comments.

Add your comments...

  • User Name Required
  • Your Comment
  • Enter the words you see:   
    Racist, abusive and off-topic comments may be removed by the moderator.
Send your storiesGet more from China.org.cnMobileRSSNewsletter