DA declares Sultan Kudarat bird flu-free

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has cleared the province of Sultan Kudarat from avian influenza or bird flu.

In a memorandum circular dated on March 22, 2024, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said that 90 days have passed since the end of disinfection operations and surveillance which yielded negative bird flu results in the province

“Continued disease monitoring and surveillance in the 1-km and 7-km surveillance zones surrounding the affected farms yielded negative test results for influenza type A virus,” Laurel said in the memo.

Sultan Kudarat had recorded 22 confirmed cases of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, particularly the H5N1 subtype, the DA said.

Cases were confirmed through laboratory testing using RT-PCR and were detected affecting duck, native chicken, chicken layer, turkey, guinea fowl, and goose.

Affected areas include the city of Tacurong and the municipalities of Isulan, Lebak, Lutayan and President Quirino from March 2022 to February 2023.

Upon detection of the disease, the concerned city and municipal government conducted disease investigation, immediate depopulation, cleaning and disinfection in the affected premises.

The protective measure was done in coordination with the provincial government of Sultan Kudarat, DA Regional Field Office 12, and the Bureau of Animal Industry.

In November last year, the Agriculture department allowed the commercial use of bird flu vaccines following the release of guidelines for vaccination.

However, the DA said that “vaccination does not guarantee absolute protection from the virus, thus, all facilities are strongly encouraged to practice biosecurity measures to the highest level possible.”