DA puts up bird flu diagnostic lab here

The Department of Agriculture is setting up an avian influenza diagnostic laboratory in the region to look after the multibillion-peso poultry industry and continue shielding Filipinos from this dreaded virus that has already killed 192 people worldwide.

According to DA regional director Eduardo Lecciones, the laboratories are largely funded by a grant from the Japanese government through the Japan Trust Fund, with the Food and Agriculture Organization and the Office Internationales des Epizooties or Animal Health Organization providing technical assistance in setting up these facilities.

He said that once completed, the facility will complement the ongoing work being done at the avian influenza diagnostic laboratory in Pampanga, which is the country’s first diagnostic facility meant to promptly detect the AI virus.

Like that of the one being set up in Pampanga, Lecciones said that this will fully comply with international standards for a biosafety laboratory and would be capable of conducting various tests to swiftly detect the presence of the AI virus in both live and dead bird samples.

Setting up of more avian flu laboratories, he said, will help keep the Philippines as one of only three countries in Southeast Asia totally free of the dreaded avian influenza or bird flu virus.

Two other laboratories will also be set up in Mindanao, Lecciones said.

The two other AI-free countries in Southeast Asia are Singapore and Brunei.

  On top of building more avian flu diagnostic labs, the Bureau of Animal Industry will be conducting “real-time simulation exercises” in due time to test the measures already put in place under the Avian Influenza Protection Program.

The BAI is also encouraging poultry farmers to implement security measures to ensure that locally raised fowl continues to be adequately shielded from migratory birds, which are known carriers of the deadly H5N1 avian influenza virus.

Dr. Samuel Animas, BAI-Animal Health Division chief, said the importance of keeping Philippine poultry farms virus-free cannot be underestimated, considering the devastating impact of an AI outbreak on the P160-billion Philippine poultry industry.

Animas, who has been designated National Avian Influenza Project Coordinator, said it is critically important that migratory birds are prevented from co-mingling with locally raised fowl.

Apart from business failures from the major league corporate farms to the illegal or backyard raisers, bird flu outbreak will impact on demand and prices of other staple food items such as pork, beef and fish as consumers shift away from poultry products.

The BAI currently has a team of veterinarians undertaking a nationwide educational campaign for poultry and livestock growers on the threat and perils of the bird flu virus.

In the event of a suspected outbreak, Animas disclosed that the avian influenza task force has organized a Rapid Action Team that can be mobilized and deployed within 24 hours to take the appropriate measures. — Jasmin R. Uy/MEEV