STO. TOMAS, Pampanga — Samples taken by the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 3 from a poultry farm in Barangay San Bartolome here showed the presence of the avian influenza virus.
The DA RFO 3 executive director Crispulo G. Bautista Jr., in a letter, has requested Mayor John Sambo to institute prompt quarantine prevention and control measures after lab tests showed the samples to be positive for Influenza Type A subtype H5N1.
Sambo was also directed to activate the Municipal Avian Influenza Task Force based on Section 3 of the Avian Influenza Protection Program Manual of Procedures (2020), which states the Preparation of National Avian Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan by the Local Government Units.
According the Bautista, reports of suspected occurrences observed in Barangay San Bartolome prompted the agency to collect samples, conducted by DA RFO 3 representatives on June 24 and 27, 2022.
The samples were then tested on June 29, 2022 at the Animal Disease Diagnosis snd Reference Laboratory, Bureau of Animal Industry in Quezon City.
“After Avian Influenza confirmation from laboratory test, stamping out of all poultry shall be implemented in the AI infected premises within 24 hours after declaration and to be accomplished in the shortest possible time,” Bautista said in his letter.
Upon declaration of infected area, surveillance will be conducted in all avian species snd other susceptible animals under Surveillance Area in AIPP-Manual of Procedures, Bautista said.
Mayor Sambo, for his part, said 100,000 chicken have already been culled yesterday, while 250,000 more will be culled today.
