The Department of Agriculture (DA) has confirmed that the
bird flu that hit parts of the country is that of the H5N6 strain – that is the
strain where the virus can be transmitted to humans.
Test samples of the strain was sent by the DA to Australia, laboratory results confirmed that indeed it is the H5N6 strain.
The DA officials said, the strain is slow to spread and
causes few deaths.
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| The Department of Agriculture has confirmed that the bird flu strain that hit the country is that of the H5N6, and not the far more deadlier H5N1 strain. (photo credit to owner) |
"The rate of transmission is very, very low,"
Arlene Vytiaco, who heads animal disease control in the Bureau of Animal
Industry, said in a press briefing.
Vutiaco
explained that countries like Japan and Myamnar have been affected by H5N6 but
have reported no humans infected by the avian influenza.
"The
mortality rate is also low," Vytiaco said. Since H5N6 started in 2014,
there have only been 20 deaths reported worldwide.
The
Department of Health has been very vigilant in conducting regular check-ups on
farmers and workers in areas hit by the bird flu outbreak.
Vytiaco said
no new patients have been admitted since two farm workers reported flu-like
symptoms last week but eventually tested negative for the avian influenza.
The
government authorities wanted to check
what was the N strain, local results showed it was the N6 and not the N1- which
is far more serious and deadlier N1. They deemed it necessary to send some test
samples to Australia to double check if it was the N6 strain, since Australia
has its own tests kits which the Philippines does not have, said Dr. Arlene
Vytiaco, the one who is responsible overseeing the disease control for the
Bureau of Animal Industry. *
The very
first bird flu reported in the country was reported earlier this month, several farms in San Luis, Pampanga was found to have contracted the bird flu
virus.
There were
statements before by the Department of Agriculture that the virus has been
present in the country since April, but was only reported this month after
37,000 birds had died. DA added the
strain of avian flu present in these birds was not transmissible to humans.
The DA as a
precautionary measure, imposed a ban on
the shipment of poultry and poultry products from Luzon to other parts of the
country on August 13 but it was lifted on August 22.
"Today,
on the recommendation of the biosecurity team headed by Dr. Arlene Vytiaco and
Dr. Enrico Garzon and, of course, with the conformity of the National Meat
Inspection Service, I will be signing after this press conference an
administrative order lifting the ban on the shipment of poultry and poultry
products from Luzon to other parts of the country on certain conditions,"
said Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol in a press briefing.
The
Secretary said the products must not come
from the 7-kilometer quarantine radius in San Luis, Pampanga, and the towns of
Jaen and San Isidro in Nueva Ecija.
Shipments
must be validated by quarantine
officers, and must carry certification that they came from accredited and
inspected farms in Luzon. The products must also carry the seal of the
quarantine officers.
Fresh eggs,
chicks, and chicken meat are allowed, as well as balut eggs that are cooked
before shipment.
"All
other products not mentioned but coming from accredited farms inspected by our
quarantine officers and certified to be free from any diseases will be
allowed," Piñol said.
Report from
CNNPhils
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