DA bans poultry imports from bird flu-hit US states

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has banned the importation of poultry from several states in the US due due to reported cases of  avian influenza or bird flu.

In a memorandum order signed by Secretary William Dar, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said importation of domestic and wild birds and their products, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen from Missouri, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa are temporarily banned.

In a report to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), US authorities said there were numerous outbreaks of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in the US states.

“The rapid spread of H5N1 in the US in a short period of time since its first laboratory detection necessitates a wider coverage of trade restriction to prevent the entry of HPAI virus and protect the health of the local poultry population,” Dar said.

He said shipments in transit or those loaded or accepted unto port before the official communication of the order to US authorities shall be allowed provided the products were slaughtered or produced 14 days prior to the first outbreak in the area.

P25 million aid

The government has allocated an initial P25 million to indemnify poultry farm owners affected by bird flu.

Bureau of Animal Industry executive director Reildrin Morales said the budget would be sourced from the DA’s quick response fund.

He said P100 would be given for every culled chicken and duck and P15 for every culled quail.

Morales said they would request more funding if the P25 million would not be enough.

In its latest report to the OIE, the Philippines said 60,289 birds died of avian influenza while 43,714 others were killed to stop the spread of the disease.

Morales said bird flu was first detected in a duck farm in Barangay Barangka in Baliuag, Bulacan on Jan. 6.

Bird flu outbreaks were also detected in Bataan, Camarines Sur, Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pampanga, Sultan Kudarat and Benguet.