Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=124508
Project calls for concern on possible spread of Avian Influenza to RP
By ANNE SANTOS
ABS-CBN General Santos City
Arrival areas in some airports in the country greet passengers with posters saying WELCOME TO BIRD FLU FREE PHILIPPINES. But will our country remain untouched?
In the past six years, more countries have been hit by a virus that occurs naturally among birds. World Health Organization reports confirmed however that there have been human cases of Avian Influenza or AI and the virus is spreading around the world.
The Philippine?s neighboring countries, Indonesia and Vietnam, have the most number of cases. Indonesia has a total of 129 cases, 105 of them fatal. Vietnam has 105 cases that have resulted to 51 deaths.
Last July 4 to 5, media practitioners were participants in a project funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to help improve public awareness and facilitate public-private partnerships in avian influenza preparedness and prevention. The activity was held in Bacolod.
Reynaldo Soriano, AI coordinator of Linking Initiatives and Networking to Control Tuberculosis (TB LINC) which launched the project, said the Philippines is not yet affected but it does not mean it is already risk free of AI.
There is the Candaba swamp, a wildlife sanctuary where migratory birds from Southeast Asia annually visits and these can carry the AI virus. General Santos and Sarangani Province could also be entry points. These areas are nearest to Indonesia and smuggling exotic birds, a hidden trade to some fishermen, is prevalent.
Avian influenza or bird flu is an infectious disease in chickens, ducks and other birds and can be transmitted to humans. Wild birds (traditionally wild waterfowl and shorebirds) carry the virus in their intestines, but usually they do not get sick. Domesticated birds like chicken, turkeys and ducks however can be infected and can die from the virus. With these, it may be transmitted to humans.
"This will create a new virus and can give rise to next pandemic influenza virus (subtype of AI). From bird to human, it can be human to human, said Dr. John Raymond Wesley Dulawan, Project consultant of TB LINC AI Project.
Prevention and control
The call now is to be concerned as AI, if it comes to the Philippines, may impact on the country?s economy and health.
Maintaining a good environment and hygiene is one preventive measure. Preventive measures also apply to poultry farms, for AI is capable of wiping out all the chickens in a farm in 24 hours.
Humans are also at risk, many of the human cases mentioned have occurred in rural or suburban areas where households keep small poultry flocks.
People are also warned not to touch dead, sick or dying birds.
The AI virus can be spread to people by manure, equipment, vehicles, egg flats, crates and people whose clothing or shoes have come in contact with the birds.
According to the consultants, there is still no vaccine and no expert on AI in the Philippines.
That is why, being well informed is the key to remain free f
Project calls for concern on possible spread of Avian Influenza to RP
By ANNE SANTOS
ABS-CBN General Santos City
Arrival areas in some airports in the country greet passengers with posters saying WELCOME TO BIRD FLU FREE PHILIPPINES. But will our country remain untouched?
In the past six years, more countries have been hit by a virus that occurs naturally among birds. World Health Organization reports confirmed however that there have been human cases of Avian Influenza or AI and the virus is spreading around the world.
The Philippine?s neighboring countries, Indonesia and Vietnam, have the most number of cases. Indonesia has a total of 129 cases, 105 of them fatal. Vietnam has 105 cases that have resulted to 51 deaths.
Last July 4 to 5, media practitioners were participants in a project funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to help improve public awareness and facilitate public-private partnerships in avian influenza preparedness and prevention. The activity was held in Bacolod.
Reynaldo Soriano, AI coordinator of Linking Initiatives and Networking to Control Tuberculosis (TB LINC) which launched the project, said the Philippines is not yet affected but it does not mean it is already risk free of AI.
There is the Candaba swamp, a wildlife sanctuary where migratory birds from Southeast Asia annually visits and these can carry the AI virus. General Santos and Sarangani Province could also be entry points. These areas are nearest to Indonesia and smuggling exotic birds, a hidden trade to some fishermen, is prevalent.
Avian influenza or bird flu is an infectious disease in chickens, ducks and other birds and can be transmitted to humans. Wild birds (traditionally wild waterfowl and shorebirds) carry the virus in their intestines, but usually they do not get sick. Domesticated birds like chicken, turkeys and ducks however can be infected and can die from the virus. With these, it may be transmitted to humans.
"This will create a new virus and can give rise to next pandemic influenza virus (subtype of AI). From bird to human, it can be human to human, said Dr. John Raymond Wesley Dulawan, Project consultant of TB LINC AI Project.
Prevention and control
The call now is to be concerned as AI, if it comes to the Philippines, may impact on the country?s economy and health.
Maintaining a good environment and hygiene is one preventive measure. Preventive measures also apply to poultry farms, for AI is capable of wiping out all the chickens in a farm in 24 hours.
Humans are also at risk, many of the human cases mentioned have occurred in rural or suburban areas where households keep small poultry flocks.
People are also warned not to touch dead, sick or dying birds.
The AI virus can be spread to people by manure, equipment, vehicles, egg flats, crates and people whose clothing or shoes have come in contact with the birds.
According to the consultants, there is still no vaccine and no expert on AI in the Philippines.
That is why, being well informed is the key to remain free f
