TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The City Veterinary Services Office (CVSO) is monitoring the entry of all live domestic and wild birds into the city because of bird flu cases reported in other provinces across the country, including nearby Isabela.
Dr. Carmen Wanas, OIC City Veterinarian, noted that the city government, through the CVSO, is already taking the necessary steps to ensure that the city is clear of bird flu and that poultry farms are protected from the disease.
Wanas said that in order to protect the city from the threat of bird flu, the CVSO is closely monitoring and regulating the entry of all live domestic and wild birds, as well as their products, conducting poultry disease incidence investigations, monitoring and surveillance, and collecting samples for identification and confirmation of poultry disease affecting the avian population, while laboratory tests recently revealed that samples supposed to be infected with Avian Influenza and New Castle Disease were negative. Live domestic and wild birds brought into the city without proper documentation will be returned to their original location.
Wanas also stated that her office is working to improve biosafety, cleanliness, and sanitation in city poultry farms, as well as collaborating with other local governments to integrate provincial border patrol.
These actions, she said, are in support of Governor Ferdinand Tubban’s declaration of Executive Order 22 series 2022, which temporarily bans the admission of all domestic and wild birds in all sections of the province.
Bird flu is a highly contagious viral disease caused by any Influenza A virus that affects several kinds of food-producing birds, such as chicken, as well as domestic birds and wild birds.
City Mayor Darwin Estrañero advises the public, particularly poultry farm owners, to notify the CVSO as soon as symptoms of bird flu appear in their fowl and birds so that the problem may be addressed before it gets worse.
