BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A total banning against the entry of all live domestic wild birds, ready to lay pullets, and their products, including table eggs and manure, from Luzon, Mindanao, Panay and Guimaras, is now in effect in Negros Occidental.
This was stipulated in an executive order issued yesterday by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, after Region 6 logged its first case of avian influenza or bird flu in Roxas City, Capiz.
Aside from Panay, bird flu was also reported by the Department of Agriculture in Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Laguna, Benguet, North and South Cotabato, Maguindanao, Isabela, Camiguin.
Lacson, in his executive order, said that Negros Occidental reserves the right to impose a total ban on other areas in Visayas with probable cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
Bird flu is a highly contagious viral disease caused by any influenza virus affecting several species of food-producing birds (chickens, turkeys, quails, guinea fowl, etc.), as well as pet birds and wild birds.
Exempted from the total ban are processed and unprocessed raw poultry meat, day-old chicks, such as broiler, layer and breeder, hatching eggs, and embryonated eggs, locally known as balut, subject to compliance of requirements.
The executive order also states the regulated entry of game fowl, turkey and domesticated poultry, domestic and wild birds, as well as their products, ducks, pigeons and other wild birds, broilers and ready to lay pullets and raw poultry meat, from HPAI free areas to the province, also subject to regulations.
In order to ensure the safety of everyone in Negros Occidental, all local chief executives are directed to strengthen biosafety, hygiene and sanitation standards in poultry dressing plants, live bird markets and poultry farms in their respective areas, Lacson said.*
