The City Veterinary Office (CVO) bans the movement in all poultry products here in Koronadal for 30 days starting this March following the aggression of Avian Influenza (AI) strain in the City of Tacurong just recently. “We need to stop temporarily the transportation in all poultry products going in and out in the city to prevent the spread of bird flu disease”, City Veterinarian Dr. Charlemagne Calo said while the city is still free from the said virus in compliance also to the Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 6 issued by Bureau of Animals and Industry of Department of Agriculture (DA).  

Among the prohibited domesticated livestock are quail, ducks and chicken including game fowl and eggs especially fertilized duck eggs (balut). Calo made clear that transportation of eggs is not permitted because the chicken manure glued to it may also contaminate that could possibly cause the spread of contamination. However, the interdiction does not include for processed poultry meats weighing 10 kilos and below because definitely it’s just for consumption purposes.

Meanwhile, the City Veterinarian also explained that despite of the strict checkpoints implementation, tons of poultry production could still enter the city as long as it has proper documents such as the latest shipping and updated veterinary certificate. He further clarified that certificate that has been issued for the last six months is not accepted.

To ensure that the said disease does not infiltrate to our place, the CVO is currently conducting massive information drive on AI and blood sampling on ducks in every barangay. Calo stated that their office has to focus on ducks since it considered as asymptomatic carrier and their resistance is more resilient and strong compared to other domestic fowls.

In addition, in case there is bird flu positive for the said testing, the result will be sent immediately to the Bureau of Animals and Industry for confirmation and culling will be done right away once established and affected fowls will be slaughtered.

The veterinarian also warned that those affected by AI should not be eaten because it can affect human health as reported in Hong Kong during the struck of H1N1 influenza unlike the African Swine Fever (ASF) that only swine is affected.

While Avian Influenza is wandering around the SOCCSKSARGEN Region, Calo assured that there is nothing to worry about with commercial poultry supplies here in the city and he also appealed to domestic livestock raisers to always practice biosecurity. This includes avoidance of mixing ducks with chicken, disinfect at least twice a week and prevent adding strange quail coming from other places.

He also reminded the public not to be confused with the symptoms of bird flu and Newcastle disease (aratay) despite having many similarities. If misperception occurs, inform the CVO directly for the quick response.