Thursday, February 08, 2007
Don't harm migratory birds: health office
"WE REMAIN to be bird flu-free, but it is important not to bring our guards down," said Acting Regional Director Jocelyn Te, who is also Avian Inluenza Program Coordinator of the Department of Health in Western Visayas, as she warned the public not to harm migratory birds.
"These migratory birds might come from other countries that are affected with bird flu so it is better to leave them alone," Te said.
Te said the Department of Health (DOH) continues to link up with the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources because detection of bird flu cases and preventing the virus from spreading to domestic fowl is "our concern".
She said the DOH has a ready supply of drugs against the avian flu, but these are in stock at the DOH central office and can only be released when there is a bird flu case.
The government continues to tighten security in seaports and airports in order to prevent the entry of bird flu in the country. The Agriculture Department is monitoring the migratory birds to prevent the local poultry from avian disease.
Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture has temporarily banned imports of live birds along with poultry and its products from Japan following reports on the presence of the avian influenza in that country.
According to Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, the ban was necessary to protect human health and poultry industry in the Philippines. (PIA)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Dumaguete. (February 8, 2007 issue)
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