DOH monitoring 600 chicken cullers for Avian flu

DAVAO CITY – The Department of Health (DOH) is currently monitoring around 600 chicken cullers, most of them Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) soldiers, to quarantine them and prevent the possible spread of the Avian Flu virus.

This, after they finished culling thousands of chickens suspected to be affected by the bird flu virus.

DOH Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial, in an interview in Davao City, however, assured the public there was no longer any cause for fear as the government now considers the disease isolated for poultry.

“The DA has declared it as stamped out or controlled,” Ubial said.

“In the first place, this is a bird disease. Wala pong nangyari na transmission to humans.”

Ubial said that the DOH is monitoring the cullers, majority of whom came from the AFP while some are farmers.

“We monitored them as to the development of signs and symptoms after the last day of culling, which was August 24,” she said.

Health workers are monitoring the cullers for the development of signs and symptoms connected with Avian Flu.

According to Ubial, the cullers are currently under home quarantine and under observation until Sept. 3.

In case there were cases found during the 10-day observation period, the DOH will isolate the patients in government hospitals to test them for possible avian influenza.

Culling is the term used by poultry operators to describe hatched poultry that is no longer useful because of factors such as a disease outbreak.

In recent days, Ubial, President Rodrigo Duterte, and other national and local government officials demonstrated that eating chicken was safe.

Ubial was among the guest of honors at a patients’ forum held at the Apo View Hotel, Wednesday.