Australia confirms H5N6 strain in Pampanga, Nueva Ecija; chicken, poultry safe to eat – DA

The Department of Agriculture (DA) maintains that chicken and other poultry products remain safe to consume despite the confirmation of the presence of human transmissible bird flu strain in Pampanga and Nueva Ecija.

“Based on the test results from the Australian Animal Health Laboratory, the samples tested positive for the N6 subtype of avian influenza virus,” said Arlene Vytiaco, national avian influenza focal person of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).

H5N6 bird flu strain can be transmitted to humans but Vytiaco pointed out that the transmission rate is “very, very low.”

Last week, two farm workers were monitored with flu-like symptoms but later on tested negative of the bird flu virus.

“There is mortality. But since 2013, when this kind of strain was discovered, just less than 20

deaths so far have been recorded worldwide,” she said.

“Most of them where from China and were directly exposed to the infected birds,” she added.

Vytiaco noted the presence of H5N6 in three Southeast Asian countries – Myanmar, Lao PDR and Vietnam. She also pointed out that Japan had cases of H5N6 in its poultry farms but had no record of human transmission.

“We make it a point that the culling team wear protective gear so they will not be infected by the virus,” she assured.

“We encourage early reporting and detection of bird flu, as well as the institution of biosecurity measures in the accreditation of poultry farms to address the problem immediately,” she added.

DA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said there is no conclusive report yet on how the virus reached San Luis and spread to Jaen and San Isidro, but vowed the agency will come up with a more efficient way of monitoring the farms and make sure that biosecurity measures are being implemented.

“We have to learn from our experiences and make sure that we will be able to improve the system,” he said.

Vytiaco advised the public to buy and consume poultry and poultry products that passed strict quarantine measures and