|
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Candaba swamp in Pampanga a bird-flu hotspot
By Marna H. Dagumboy
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Candaba swamp, which has gained international recognition as favorite nesting place of migratory birds, has been included in the list of 20 areas identified as possible breeding grounds for the deadly bird flu.
Officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Health (DOH) said they have placed under tight watch at least 20 areas in the country that are possible breeding grounds of the avian influenza virus.
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said aside from Candaba swamp, other areas in the list of bird flu "hot spots" include Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Sibugay, Palawan, Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte, Aparri, Cagayan, Cebu, Negros Occidental, Isabela, Lake Mainit in Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Roxas City, Sorsogon, General Santos City, Mindoro Oriental and Cotabato.
The areas have an abundance of swamplands and watering holes that are periodically visited by migratory birds, he said.
Yap said the migratory birds are the biggest threat if they are infected with the virus. He said the Philippines is the only country in the Asian region with a significant poultry industry that is avian flu-free.
He said the DA and the DOH will isolate a particular spot where there is a daily death of three percent of the bird population. He said two agencies would isolate the area within a three-kilometer radius quarantine area.
The agriculture secretary added that if findings become positive, the area will be stretched to a seven-kilometer radius and all the birds stamped out. No poultry activities will be allowed, he said.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque said although the risk could not be quantified, the probability of the virus spreading is high.
The most vulnerable people, he said, are those who actually come in contact with the infected birds.
Duque said the avian influenza virus disease has a 70 percent fatality rate for people who are infected.
Yap said even the world-famous Philippine Eagle is in danger of becoming extinct if the National Wild Park Conservation area in Davao, where the national birds are found, becomes part of the three-kilometer quarantine area. (Sun.Star Pampanga/Sunnex) |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Audit on 'missing' P205M: DepEd, bank files don't tally