Saturday, May 31, 2008 Pampanga remains on alert vs bird flu By Raymond C. Garcia
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Authorities in Pampanga continue to prepare against the possible entry of the avian influenza into the province.
This was learned during the Avian Influenza Provincial Summit held at the King's Royale Hotel in Bacolor town attended by personnel of the Provincial Veterinarian's Office, Pampanga Disaster Response Network (PDRN) and Pampanga Association of Non-Government Organizations (Pampango).
"Although the country is still free from this deadly virus, the annual migration of birds to the Candaba swamp poses danger not only to the province but the whole country. These birds might be carrying the deadly strain," Pampanga officials said.
However, Wild Bird Club of the Philippines president Michael Lu said the route of these migratory birds does not include affected areas like Vietnam or Indonesia.
Lu said vigilance should be emphasized especially in the implementation of the laws regarding transport, transit and smuggling of fowls, exotic birds and poultries from other countries.
Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), coming from affected countries, may also carry and transmit the virus into the country.
Dr. Rhodora Cruz, Department of Health (DOH) Regional Avian Flu Coordinator, said humans may transmit the virus through sneezing, coughing or even conversations. The effects of bird flu are fatal to humans.
Dr. Romeo Manalili, Regional Avian Influenza Coordinator of the Department of Agriculture (DA), echoed the statement of Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy, Program Manager of the Infectious Disease Office saying that government agencies and the non-government organizations (NGOs) should work hand in hand to prevent the occurrence of bird flu in the country.
The Philippines is one of the countries in Asia not affected by this disease, according to Manalili.
He encouraged every citizen to be prepared and vigilant since the threat of the killer virus could affect the whole community.
Manalili also suggested for the empowering of field officers, mapping up of critical areas, poultry population survey and the conduct of training and information dissemination.
This, he added, would be of great help in mitigating the dangers of the virus.
He also urges the use of text messaging as a means of informing the public.
But he stressed that it is "only the director of the Bureau of Animal Industry who has the authority to declare the presence or incidents of bird flu in the country."
Representatives from DA and DOH assured that Pampanga is still safe and is ready to address any eventuality.
The summit was initiated and sponsored by the United States Agency on International Development (USAid) and the Linking Initiatives and Networking to Control Tuberculosis (TB Linc).
