DA reports avian flu case in Jaen, Nueva Ecija is solved

July 23, 2020

Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the incidence of avian influenza  A(H5N6) incidence in Jaen, Nueva Ecija reported in March has been solved.

"We commend the strong partnership among the quail farm owner, provincial and municipal officials and veterinarians, and our DA Central Luzon Regional Field Office (RFO3) and BAI team for successfully solving the AI A(H5N6) incidence in Jaen, Nueva Ecija," said Dar.

According to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) cases of AI A(H5N6) among poultry farms in the vicinity of the affected farm in Jaen have not been detected in the last 90 days, after completion of cleaning and disinfection procedures of the affected farm.

BAI Director Ronnie Domingo said  upon confirmation of the avian influenza incidence in March 13, 2020, the DA with the farm owner, local officials and veterinarians "stamped out" the affected farm, properly disposed off all birds, and undertook thorough cleaning and disinfection procedures.

"A series of surveillance activities were also undertaken to determine the extent of infection and capture unreported cases," he said.

"All laboratory tests yielded negative results for both quarantine and surveillance zones. Early reporting and early multi-agency response provided effective closure of the Nueva Ecija avian flu incident," he added.

Although the Avian flu incidence in Jaen was addressed, Domingo said there is no guarantee that the country is free from bird flu.

"We are still conducting bird flu surveillance in other provinces. We need to wait for the completion of these field investigations," he said.

"At the moment, we tell poultry farmers and industry stakeholders we have just completed our AI surveillance in other high risk provinces. Lab samples are still being processed," he added. Robina Asido/DMS