It's safe to eat chicken: agriculture

DEPARTMENT of Agriculture (DA) regional executive director Jindra Linda L. Demeterio said Tuesday that it is still safe to eat chicken despite the bird flu scare.

Demeterio dismissed news that a case of bird flu was confirmed in Escalante, Negros Occidental.

"The Philippines is still bird flu-free," she said.

"The Department of Agriculture, RFU 6 wishes to allay fears and concerns brought about by baseless text messages being circulated, claiming that a case of avian or bird flu has been confirmed in Escalante, Negros Occidental. There is no truth at all to these reports by text messages. It is still safe to eat chicken," she added.

Demeterio said the text messages could have been a misunderstanding of the mission carried by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) team, which recently collected blood samples from domestic fowl in Barangays Washington and Cervantes in Escalante.

"The mission was part of the surveillance component of the nationwide Avian Influenza Protection Program (Aipp), and will be carried out every six months henceforth in identified areas nationwide."

Demeterio stressed that what is important is for everyone to be vigilant and cooperative in dealing the migratory birds, which could have been contaminated with bird flu and have the tendency to infect humans.

Migratory birds came from Siberia and traveled until China and Australia. But during winter, these birds migrate to other countries like Hong Kong and Cambodia and even in the Philippines where they can seek wet and swampy habitat.

Wet and swampy lands indeed attract these birds. Such lands abound in the Philippines.

Other identified migratory sites in Western Visayas released by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) include Mandurriao in Iloilo City; Hinaktakan, Leganes; Brgys. Tiwi, Lanas, Tinurian in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo; Sampunong Bolo Wildlife Sanctuary, Sara,Concepcion, Ajuy, San Dionisio, Estancia, Balasan in Iloilo; municipalities of Jordan, Sibunag, San Lorenzo, Nueva Valencia in Guimaras province; Roxas City, Barangay Cudian, Ivisan, Sapian, Sigma in Capiz province; municipalities of Hamtic,Culasi, San Jose, Sibalom, San Remegio in Antique; Bago City, Valladolid, Barangay Tibsuk, San Enrique, Himamaylan, Ilog, Kabankalan, Sipalay, Hinobaan, Sagay Marine Reserve in Sagay City in Negros Occidental; and Batan, Altavas and Old Buswang , Kalibo in Aklan. "These are critical areas in Western Visayas," Demeterio said.

"There are lots of wetlands six meters deep below water in Roxas," Dr. Oscar Limoso, regional veterinary quarantine service chief said.

"People in these areas are urged not to approach migratory birds, which commonly converge in swamps and ponds. Unusual illness or death of these birds and local stocks should be reported right away to the DA. The DA-RFU 6 Hotlines are (033)337 5614 and (033) 337-0939. For DOH Bird Flu Hotlines: call 155 for Smart cell phone users. For text messages, type BF then send to 2960."

The problem confronting the DA in dealing with these foreign birds though is that, most people do not identify these birds from the natives.

Migratory birds, which are feared to carry avian flu, are herons/egrets, geese/ducks, gallinules/coots, shore birds-waders, gulls, terns and skimmers. These variety of birds are not foreign to Filipinos by name and by appearance, because the Philippines itself have these kinds of birds but are of different variety.

Demeterio said the DA would come up with pamphlets which show the differences between the foreign and native birds.

Dr. Nim Lim, chief of the Diagnostic Lab, Regional Animal Disease Office said "aratay" among chickens and other poultry animals cannot be associated with bird flu or avian influenza so as to inform the few who consider it both identical though "aratay" is also a type of flu.

Dr. Genoso explained that waterfowls are far more susceptible with avian flu because they carry 24 types of viruses. Bird flu can be contracted only through respiratory contact with infected birds. It was advised then that waterfowls, ducks and poultry animals should be strayed off migratory birds to avoid contraction of the said flu.

"We can't make these migratory birds possibly infected with bird flu to stay off of our lands but we can avoid being infected with its virus if we make our animals and ourselves stay away from them," Demeterio said.

source: sunstar By Lory Ann B. Bilbao