Senator Nancy Binay urged national and local government units, as well as poultry and gamefowl farms, to conduct and implement biosecurity measures in light of the avian flu outbreak in Pampanga.
“Nananawagan po ako sa mga LGUs, pati na rin sa mga may-ari at trabahador ng mga poultry at gamefowl farms, na pairalin ang biosecurity measures at farm hygiene upang mapigilan ang pagkalat ng bird flu sa kanilang mga nasasakupan at alaga,” Binay said.
“This will also prevent the possible transmission of bird flu from poultry to humans,” the legislator added.
Biosecurity measures are management practices to reduce the potential of introducing and spreading of disease-causing organisms into and between sites.
These include isolation of infected birds; sanitation and disinfection of facilities and people; and controlling traffic of people and flocks in and out of the farm.
“Dapat din pong isama ang mga backyard at gamefowl farms sa implementation ng biosecurity plans. Alam po nating mas madalas ang contact ng mga ibon sa mga tao sa mga gamefowl farms at mga sabungan,” the lawmaker said.
The lady senator also called on the Department of Agriculture (DA) to review existing biosecurity plans, especially the records and documentation of poultry farms.
“Dapat din pong magreview ng existing plans; at paigtingin ang information and education campaign sa pag-identify at pag-educate sa ating mga farm workers tungkol sa biosecurity, identification ng bird flu, yung mode/s of transmission from birds to humans, signs and symptoms nito, at iba pang relevant information,” she said.
Binay added that farm owners and personnel are part of the identification and control of the spread of bird flu in their farms.
“Kasama po ang mga farm owners at personnel sa laban kontra sa bird flu, at nananawagan po ako sa kanila na i-report agad sa mga kinauukulan ang mga kaso ng bird flu, kahit na suspetsado pa lang. Mabuti na po ang maagang identification and control,” the legislator said.
The lawmaker added that the DA and the environment department should also monitor migrating wild birds which stop at Pampanga, especially in the Candaba swamp.
“Sinasabi nila na pwedeng maging carrier ng bird flu ang mga wild birds, kaya kailangan din maging alerto ang DA at DENR personnel sa mga ibon na may signs and symptoms ng bird flu. Dapat din po itong tutukan upang maiwasan ang paglipat mula sa mga wild birds patungo sa domestic poultry,” Binay said.
The lady senator added that all should learn from this bird flu outbreak.
“Hindi po tayo dapat maging kampante sa mga ganitong klaseng sakit dahil masakit sa bulsa ito, lalo na sa mga farm owners na kailangan puksain ang mga alaga. I also call on the DA and the local veterinary offices to start rollingout as well as planning and reviewing their contingency plans,” she said.