Palace: No confirmed bird to human contamination in PH

MALACAÑANG on Saturday moved to allay fears of the possible spread of the bird flu virus in humans, saying it can only be transferred through “respiratory and direct route.”

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the Department of Health (DOH) already confirmed that the 34 people who developed flu-like symptoms have been cleared of the avian flu virus.

“As of this report, there has been no documented bird-to-human contamination in the Philippines. The results are in. All those who showed flu-like symptoms have already tested negative for the AH5N6 virus. This is according to the Department of Health,” Abella said in a statement read over government-owned dzRB.

“We reiterate that our health officials have said that bird flu is transferred via respiratory and direct route,” he added.

On Friday, Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial said 30 individuals from Pampanga and four from Nueva Ecija tested negative for Influenza A H5N6 strain of the avian flu.

Ubial said humans infected with H5N6 infection display flu-like symptoms like fever, coughs and colds, aching joints and diarrhea.

The Health Secretary’s announcement came after the government confirmed that the bird flu that Pampanga and Nueva Ecija has been confirmed to be H5N6, a strain that can be contagious to humans.

Dr. Socorro Lupisan, director for the DOH’s Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, said the bird-to-human transmission rate is “very, very low” but the mortality rate is “high.”

Abella reminded the public anew to properly cook chicken meat and eggs for safe consumption.

“Properly cooked chicken meat and egg remain safe to eat,” he said. (Ruth Abbey Gita/SunStar Philippines)