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Friday, October 28, 2005
Mayor puts in place avian flu task force
IT'S all systems go for an integrated action and response to the threat of Avian influenza, which continues to spread in many countries and cause massive economic losses and social dislocation, aside from deaths.
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte signed Executive Order 24, constituting the Avian Influenza Task Force to implement the Davao City Avian Influenza protection program.
"The Avian Influenza is a concern not only of veterinary health but is a threat to human health as well and hence, require urgent, immediate and integrated action and response," Duterte said in his order dated October 26.
Duterte assured Davao City will continue to be bird-flu free by putting in place mechanisms to pro-actively respond to the situation.
The task force is divided into four teams which shall undertake immediate diagnosis, regular surveillance, implement quarantine measures, conduct periodic identification and consolidation of data on poultry population and ensure adequate public awareness on Avian influenza.
The Rapid Action Team is composed of the City Veterinarian, City Health, City Disaster, Philippine National Police, 911, and Task Force Davao to carry out the immediate diagnosis of suspect premises and the initiation and implementation of the stamping out procedures.
Meanwhile, the surveillance team is tasked to conduct regular surveillance and profiling of poultry diseases while the quarantine team ensures the implementation of quarantine measures in Stage 1 and 2 of the AI.
Minimum bio-security control measures will also be put in place such as shower rooms, gates, foot baths and fumigation boxes.
Surveillance and prevention in airports and seaports will be continued, including the standardized footbath installations and replenishments of disinfectants, inspection of cargo from AI infected countries, confiscation and destruction of unlicensed cargo, and screening for the AI Virus upon arrival at airport or seaport of all imported poultry and poultry products.
The basis of presence of Avian influenza shall be the confirmation by the Philippine Animal Health Center by isolation of the High Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus, where at least 50 percent of samples test positive in the rapid test for Influenza A virus and mortality continues to increase rapidly and when tests show no indication of infection for other diseases.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (October 28, 2005 issue)
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