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So
far, the Philippines is still bird flu-free, as reported by the
Department of Agriculture (DA) in its Website. The DA assures the
public that it is doing its best to keep everyone informed of the
country’s bird flu status.
Moreover,
experts say the coordinated effort of the government, through the
National Avian Influenza Task Force (NAITF), to thwart the entry
of the virus to the country is doing well.
The
multi-agency task force implements the Avian Influenza Protection
Program (AIPP), the country’s response to the global pandemic
threat. It is the task force’s responsibility to bring the
AIPP procedures to the regions through the Project Blue.
Project
Blue takes care of the nationwide bird flu-preparedness campaign.
The
government continues to urge the public, the poultry farmers in
particular, to coordinate with the NAITF.
On
the lookout for the virus
The
task force reported that the country had banned imports of live
poultry and its products from Turkey, Romania, Russia, Kazakhstan,
Mongolia, Japan, North Korea, South Africa, China, Laos, Cambodia,
Pakistan, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Hongkong.
It
also established compartmentalized poultry zones to prevent the
entry and limit or stop the spread of bird flu. It has also imposed
checkpoints for the movement of chicken and birds. It is also monitoring
migratory birds in critical vulnerable areas.
The
task force also advocates the immediate reporting of suspected wild
bird-smuggling activities.
Since
2003, the bird flu, caused by the influenza A virus, has been on
the move in Southeast Asia and other parts of the world including
Europe.
Imported
live poultry and migratory birds from countries affected can bring
in bird flu into another country. Smuggling, barter trading, and
sale of pet and wild birds from countries with bird flu can also
be a threat. (Maria Estela H. Facundo)
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