Veterinarians given role in bird flu preparations

Provincial and local veterinarians are now ready to apply their respective avian influenza contingency plan after a two-day workshop led by the Department of Agriculture-7.

DA regional director Eduardo Lecciones Jr. said the two-day workshop that culminated last week, gave the participants a better understanding of the bird flu hazard, its effects and draft counter-measures.

At the same time, Lecciones said they were able to institutionalize the Philippine Disaster Management System from the national down to the local level.

The workshop made member agencies such as health and agriculture to know their functions and competencies in disaster management.

Bird flu is an infection caused by the avian influenza viruses that occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines but usually do not get sick from them. However, bird flu is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them. - Ferliza C. Contratista