Benguet intensifies bird flu prevention

DUE TO imminent danger of Avian Flu, Benguet is set to intensify prevention.

"Knowing some commodities have come to the province like poultry and chicken dung, there is imminent danger that we might be affected," said Governor Crescencio Pacalso, chairman of the Avian Influenza Task Force.

Pacalso acknowledge adverse effects on the health and livelihood of the community following the recent occurrences of Avian Flu in San Luis, Pampanga and Jaen and San Isidro in Nueva Ecija last year.

The governor said from the source, there should be a traceability especially for the traders to have an idea where their products came from while delivery trucks must have its proper label wherein buyers can easily determine the source.

"We have talked to the traders, stakeholders in the poultry industry, chicken dung sellers, wholesalers and retailers to cooperate and make sure all commodities brought inside the province, they must get the appropriate permits for it," said Pacalso.

The creation of the Avian Influenza task force, the governor

said, will intensify the quarantine service in all entry points to regulate commodities that might bring disease in the province.

Benguet have active quarantine entry points along the entry roads of the Province in Palispi-Aspiras Highway (Marcos Highway), Naguilian Road (Sablan), Kennon Road (Tuba), and the Mt. Province-Benguet Road-Bangao (Buguias).

The province also plans to add and establish entry points in Benguet-Ilocos Sur Road in Mankayan, Tubao (La Union)-San Pascual (Tuba),La Union-Gaswing Road (Kapangan), IfugaoBenguet Road (Buguias) and other entry points.

A contingency plan is being finalized to be pursued in case of positive cases of the disease. Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Nora Ruiz said an Incident Management Team composed of the Provincial Health Office, Provincial Veterinary Office, Benguet General Hospital, Barangay Environment and Natural Resources, municipal local government units, Philippine National Police, Benguet State University, provincial disaster risk reduction management council, municipal administrative office, Philippine Information Agency, Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture and army reserve command to serve as respondents in case of an outbreak .

“With the province being vulnerable entry point, hindi malayong magkaroon with Benguet as a market destination," said Ruiz.

Laboratory results of blood samples from the province are being tested and transported in Manila which have resulted to new castle diseases, infectious bronchitis, infectious laryngotrancheitis as top causes of death among chickens.

With the only means of blood tests to establish cases of Avian Influenza, Ruiz added there are difficulties to determine bird flu symptoms prior to similar symptoms brought by other diseases.