Mingus
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Monday, October 09, 2006
Agri dep't signals bird flu alarm
By Danilo V. Adorador III
MIGRATORY birds have started flocking Northern Mindanao's wetlands, an Agriculture official said, warning the public against hunting fowls that may carry the dreaded highly pathogenic Avian Influenza or "bird flu."
Joel Rodinas, head of the Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao, urged the public to avoid contact with migratory birds and to report suspicious animal diseases.
Among the bird flu hotspots are the swamps located in the Misamis Oriental towns of Opol, Alubijid, Balingasag, the city of Gingoog and Maramag town in Bukidnon and Bonifacio municipality of Misamis Occidental.
Rodinas said his office routinely collect samples from all identified migratory birds sanctuaries in Region-10 to detect the virulent AI strain among local fowls.
Effective monitoring and early detection of the disease will be further enhanced with the coming of a high-tech machine capable immediately identifying bird flu, he said.
Currently, local samples are sent to the Manila laboratory for re-examination and for final confirmation, he said.
The machine, to be procured from the grant provided by the Japanese government, will arrive before the year ends, he said, adding early detection of the virus was crucial to its immediate containment.
"Once we have the latest equipment, we can then conduct our tests with authority and confirm the same certainty," he said.
Pandemic
Cagayan de Oro, which is sandwiched between the region's wetlands frequented by migratory birds, has already passed an ordinance banning the hunting of migratory birds and creating a bird flu task force.
The Misamis Oriental provincial government has done the same.
Councilor Simeon Licayan, the principal author of the Cagayan de Oro anti-bird flu ordinance, said prevention remains the effective weapon to keep the virus from entering the country, adding the city government has already drawn up contingency plans once a break-out happens.
Rodinas underscored the local government's preparedness in containing bird flu, saying local initiatives have helped the country to avoid the dreaded disease, and will minimize the impact in case a bird flu pandemic occurs.
The Philippines is the only remaining bird flu-free region in South East Asia.
Last month, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said the department has standby funds that could accommodate 66,000 patients in case flu pandemic happens in the country.
Cordoned
Duque, said that in case human-to-human transmission of the disease happens in the country, a standby fund amounting to P16 million has been allotted for the purpose.
The H5N1 virus, a subtype of avian influenza, believed to infect only fowls but because of mutation, it would also be able to infect humans.
Once a positive case is established whether on fowl or human, Duque said that as standard operating procedure, the area will be cordoned off within a three-kilometer radius.
The last bird flu pandemic, which killed 1.4 million people, was recorded in 1968 in Hong Kong.
There are no available vaccines yet to protect an individual from acquiring the virus.
The cost of treatment to those diagnosed with the disease ranges from P29,000 to P65,000 depending on the severity of the patient afflicted with influenza. (With reports from Sunnex)
(October 9, 2006 issue)
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/forums/
Agri dep't signals bird flu alarm
By Danilo V. Adorador III
MIGRATORY birds have started flocking Northern Mindanao's wetlands, an Agriculture official said, warning the public against hunting fowls that may carry the dreaded highly pathogenic Avian Influenza or "bird flu."
Joel Rodinas, head of the Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao, urged the public to avoid contact with migratory birds and to report suspicious animal diseases.
Among the bird flu hotspots are the swamps located in the Misamis Oriental towns of Opol, Alubijid, Balingasag, the city of Gingoog and Maramag town in Bukidnon and Bonifacio municipality of Misamis Occidental.
Rodinas said his office routinely collect samples from all identified migratory birds sanctuaries in Region-10 to detect the virulent AI strain among local fowls.
Effective monitoring and early detection of the disease will be further enhanced with the coming of a high-tech machine capable immediately identifying bird flu, he said.
Currently, local samples are sent to the Manila laboratory for re-examination and for final confirmation, he said.
The machine, to be procured from the grant provided by the Japanese government, will arrive before the year ends, he said, adding early detection of the virus was crucial to its immediate containment.
"Once we have the latest equipment, we can then conduct our tests with authority and confirm the same certainty," he said.
Pandemic
Cagayan de Oro, which is sandwiched between the region's wetlands frequented by migratory birds, has already passed an ordinance banning the hunting of migratory birds and creating a bird flu task force.
The Misamis Oriental provincial government has done the same.
Councilor Simeon Licayan, the principal author of the Cagayan de Oro anti-bird flu ordinance, said prevention remains the effective weapon to keep the virus from entering the country, adding the city government has already drawn up contingency plans once a break-out happens.
Rodinas underscored the local government's preparedness in containing bird flu, saying local initiatives have helped the country to avoid the dreaded disease, and will minimize the impact in case a bird flu pandemic occurs.
The Philippines is the only remaining bird flu-free region in South East Asia.
Last month, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said the department has standby funds that could accommodate 66,000 patients in case flu pandemic happens in the country.
Cordoned
Duque, said that in case human-to-human transmission of the disease happens in the country, a standby fund amounting to P16 million has been allotted for the purpose.
The H5N1 virus, a subtype of avian influenza, believed to infect only fowls but because of mutation, it would also be able to infect humans.
Once a positive case is established whether on fowl or human, Duque said that as standard operating procedure, the area will be cordoned off within a three-kilometer radius.
The last bird flu pandemic, which killed 1.4 million people, was recorded in 1968 in Hong Kong.
There are no available vaccines yet to protect an individual from acquiring the virus.
The cost of treatment to those diagnosed with the disease ranges from P29,000 to P65,000 depending on the severity of the patient afflicted with influenza. (With reports from Sunnex)
(October 9, 2006 issue)
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/forums/