DA confirms resurgence of bird flu in Pampanga town egg farm

THE Philippines has confirmed the resurgence of the fatal H5N6 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) at a layer farm in San Luis, Pampanga—the “hot zone” of the Central Luzon bird flu outbreak—where over 200,000 birds were culled in 2017.

This time, the dreaded bird flu struck an egg farm where government veterinarians had humanely culled 38,701 heads, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The DA said initial field investigation showed the presence of migratory birds in San Luis, Pampanga.

Migratory birds have been associated with bird flu outbreaks in many countries, including the Philippines, DA added.

Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) Officer-in-charge Director Ronnie D. Domingo said early reporting, detection and strong multi-agency collaboration paved the way for the rapid and effective response in the management of the latest avian influenza (AI) outbreak.

The confirmation of bird f lu in San Luis on Wednesday came a week after the DA pronounced the outbreak at a quail farm in Jaen, Nueva Ecija has been resolved.

Nonetheless, DA assured the public that broiler farms, which produce chicken meat, in the country are still free from bird flu.

Arlene Vytiaco, DA technical spokesman for AI, told the Businessmirror that the owner of the egg, or layer farm, reported to the regional field office and the provincial veterinary office (PVO) on July 7 of an unusual mortality among his flock.

Vytiaco said the farm owner observed deaths ranging from 35 to 70 heads last July 6 compared to the usual, or normal mortality rate of 2 to 3 heads.

The farm owner also observed clinical signs for AI in the dead layers such as bluish discoloration of comb and nasal discharge that added to the reason for him reporting it immediately to authorities, Vytiaco added.

Vytiaco said the PVO immediately dispatched a team to collect blood samples on July 8 and the test results yielded positive for AI type A on the same day.

On July 9, the blood samples were sent to the Animal Disease Diagnostic and Reference Laboratory (ADDRL) at the Bureau of Animal Industry for confirmation and subtyping of the disease.

The results were released on the same date and revealed that the bird flu that struck the layer farm was H5N6, the same strain that hit Central Luzon in 2017.

On July 10, the BAI, PVO and local government unit of San Luis formed 30 surveillance teams to collect samples within the 1-kilometer radius of the infected farm to determine if the disease has spread to nearby farms, which were about 30.

Fortunately, Vytiaco, who was part of the surveillance team herself, said all samples from about 30 farms were negative for AI.

Vytiaco, who was also the head of the government’s task force in handling the AI outbreaks in 2017, said the affected egg farm was also struck by bird flu last 2017.

“We are thankful that the farmers are now reporting early to us compared in 2017. We really laud the farmer for reporting the incident to us as soon as possible,” she said.

However, Vytiaco disclosed that poultry farmers are still having a hard time improving their biosecurity, despite the devastation they suffered from bird flu three years ago.

Strict biosecurity measures is one of the key measures to prevent getting infected by AI especially in San Luis, Pampanga where migratory birds are known to nest, Vytiaco added.

Like in 2017, Vytiaco said ducks that have been in contact with the migratory birds may have been the carrier of the AI again.

Vytiaco said the egg farm owner would be compensated at an indemnification rate of P80 per head.