THE Department of Agriculture in Negros Island Region (DA-NIR) and the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) of Negros Occidental province initiated the avian influenza or bird flu testing for 180 heads of ducks in six barangays of Himamaylan City.

Samples were randomly collected from 30 ducks each in Barangays 2, 3, 4, Caradio-an, Mambagaton, and Su-ay on June 1 to 3.

The result of the laboratory tests is expected to come out next week, said Edina Barrientos, medical technologist I of PVO.

Barrientos said the bi-annual activity is part of the monitoring initiative of DA to ensure that all water fowls and other poultry species are free from avian influenza.

“Although the Philippines is still a bird flu-free country, regular surveillance should still be conducted as entry of migratory birds which are possible carriers of the virus also continues,” she said.

Migratory birds from other Asian countries such as Thailand, China and Vietnam are considered potential carrier of the virus.

Since Himamaylan City has many swampy areas, it has become one of the migratory bird sites in the province thus, poultry species in the area are also potential indicators of possible avian influenza infection.

Barrientos said that since Negros Occidental is number one in gamefowl industry, PVO has to step up its measures to ensure and maintain a bird flu-free province.

PVO records showed that based on the summary of domestic movement of animals, the province has transported almost 1.8 million heads of poultry animals last year.

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f which, 195,991 heads of gamefowl were shipped to various markets outside Negros Occidental; 23,928 - hen; 21,515 - young poultry; 146, 619 - laying hen; 1,410,355 - day-old-chicks; 121 - duck; 12 - wood duck; and turkey - 121.