- GILBERT BAYORAN
The biosecurity protocols of the provincial government against bird flu are already in place in major ports, said Provincial Veterinarian, Dr. Placeda Lemana.
Lemana said she sees no problem in Negros Occidental as quarantine inspectors are already detailed in various ports.
Negros Occidental bans the entry of all live domestic or wild birds, ready-to-lay pullets, and their products, including table eggs and manure, from Luzon, Mindanao, Panay, and Guimaras, following the detection of avian influenza, or bird flu, in Capiz.
Bird flu is a highly contagious viral disease caused by an influenza virus affecting several species of food-producing birds, like chickens, turkeys, quails, guinea fowl, etc., as well as pet or wild birds.
Following the detection of bird flu in the region, Lemana said all Provincial Veterinary Offices in Western Visayas immediately held an emergency meeting to find ways to control the situation.
Lemana added that stakeholders of the province’s poultry industry have also convened.
She said that eggs have big chances of becoming carriers of bird flu than layers, noting that the virus is “embryo lethal”.
The poultry industry in Negros Occidental is estimated at P8 billion./GB
