A VETERINARIAN announced that Zamboanga City remains to be free from avian influenza or bird flu strain based on results of the Avian Influenza Surveillance that was conducted by the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Dr. Mario Ariola, city veterinarian officer, reported to Mayor Mayor Celso Lobregat that serological tests conducted on fowls and other animals in identified vulnerable villages yielded negative results of avian influenza virus.

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Ariola said the surveillance covered the monitoring and observation of the fowls, such as chicken, turkey, guinea fowl, geese and ducks.

The tests, he said, were done through blood sampling and cloacal swab collection.

He said the DA gathered blood samples from a total of 187 fowls to test against antibodies avian influenza virus.

The surveillance covered from January 15 to February 5, this year.

The conduct of the Avian Influenza Surveillance is one of the programs initiated by Ariola's office in collaboration with the DA to ensure that the city remains free from the bird flu.

In 2009, Zamboanga City has been cited as the country’s first city to develop a City Avian Influenza Contingency Plan, a program aimed to protect the city from avian flu commonly known as bird flu and caused by viruses adapted to birds.

“The City Veterinarian office and the DA worked hand-in-hand to monitor and observe the different animals in the identified barangays that are highly vulnerable to avian influenza,” Ariola said.

He said surveillance activities will continue to ensure that the avian influenza-free record of Zamboanga will be sustained.

The next blood sample collection will be between the months of March and May and the third will be from October to December this year, said Ariola. (Bong Garcia)