DA to come up with new policies to prevent another outbreak of avian flu

It might never be the same for the Philippines after being struck by the dreaded avian flu virus. This, since there's a risk now that the pathogenic H5N6 avian influenza that has recently been detected in the country could eventually become endemic.

Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) head for animal disease and control division Arlene Vytiaco has confirmed on Thursday that the tests on the dead birds found in San Luis, Pampanga – where the avian flu oubtreak began – were positive for H5N6.

H5N6 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus that could be transmitted to humans but according to Vytiaco, the chance that it would kill someone is "very, very low."

However, she said the Philippines could now be more susceptible to this kind of virus moving forward.

"In Myanmar, this type of virus is already endemic to them. It's already there to persist. There's a possibility for this to be endemic here in the Philippines if we will not be careful. Some countries, ever since they had an outbreak, they still have the virus until now. If we won't do anything, it can also happen to us," Vytiaco said in an interview with reporters on Thursday.

According to her, other countries that had H5N6 detection includes Japan, Vietnam, and Laos.

As of now, the Department of Agriculture (DA) believes it has already contained the bird flu that struck San Luis in Pampanga as well as another two towns in Nueva Ecija.

But having to contain the outbreak is one thing, preventing another outbreak from happening is another thing.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said now that it is already confirmed that the phenomenon that had killed thousands of birds in the aforementioned areas was really due to avian flu, there's definitely going to be changes in terms of how the country would be handling this matter.

"There's no way we could prepare for it... but we have to learn from new experiences and we will make sure that there will be changes in the system," Piñol said.

According to him, the DA will come up with new policies in terms of dealing with another flu outbreak like this.

This may involve strict monitoring and early reporting on the side of poultry growers.

According to Vytiaco, it will still take 90 days before the government can confirm that the Philippines is finally free from avian flu.

The source of the virus is still yet to be found out.