MANILA, Philippines – Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. declared Camarines Norte free from avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, on Tuesday, March 4.
The province confirmed in December 2024 one case of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (subtype H5N2) in a duck farm in Talisay. The following month, the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) reported the virus detected in 15 out of 428 backyard ducks in the province.
Following these cases, the DA and the local government implemented depopulation, disease control measures, disinfection and biosecurity activities, according to Memorandum Circular 6 issued on Tuesday.
Surveillance of affected farms within one to seven kilometer radius yielded no new cases of the virus.
A zone that previously did not have any cases regains “free status” when it records no new cases 28 days after depopulation and disinfection, according to WOAH.
Twelve months without new cases makes a country or zone free from avian influenza.
Eight other provinces were still affected by the virus as of February 28: Kalinga, Benguet, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Bataan, Bulacan, Laguna, plus the City of Manila.
In January, the Department of Agriculture said field trials of bird flu vaccines from Hungary and Germany were ongoing. Risk of human infections was still considered low, although there had been reported cases in the United States and Canada. – Rappler.com