Philippines to cull birds in second province amid suspected bird flu
NAN-F-15
Birds
Manila, Aug. 18, 2017 (dpa/NAN) Philippine authorities on Friday ordered the culling of tens of thousands of birds in two towns in a second province due to a suspected outbreak of bird flu.
The Department of Agriculture already is culling about 600,000 birds in the northern province of Pampanga, after the country’s first outbreak of avian influenza was confirmed there last week.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol said poultry deaths were reported in two towns in the nearby province of Nueva Ecija, and tests were done to determine if avian influenza was the cause.
“Even before the confirmation, we have already set up a firewall to contain the virus.
“We will eliminate all fowl in a one kilometre radius and ban all movements of birds and poultry products from a seven kilometres radius.
“We are in full control of the areas, and our soldiers are also there helping,” he said.
Similar restrictions were imposed in Pampanga, where the outbreak initially was detected from six farms in the town of San Luis.
Due to quarantine measures, other farms have volunteered to have their fowl culled.
“More than 300 troops have been deployed to Pampanga to help depopulate 36 poultry farms there,’’ the Philippine army said.
The department has stopped the movement of live fowls and poultry products from northern Luzon, where Pampanga and Nueva Ecija are located, to other parts of the country to prevent the spread of the disease. (dpa/NAN)
OYE/AFA
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Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole/Felix Ajide