Bataan declared bird flu-free

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has declared Bataan free from the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) or bird flu, three years after the province first reported outbreaks of the disease.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said recent surveillance conducted in areas with reported outbreaks indicated no new HPAI infections.

Bataan first reported cases of the H5N1 strain in 2022. The disease reemerged in 2023, affecting duck farms in Pilar in April and Balanga in November. In May 2024, the virus hit a quail farm in Hermosa.

To contain the outbreaks, the provincial government, in coordination with the DA and the Bureau of Animal Industry), enforced strict disease control protocols such as stamping out, quarantine and disinfection of infected sites.

Surveillance included blood sampling and virus testing in domestic bird populations.

“This declaration restores confidence in the poultry industry in Bataan and supports our goal to secure food supply through science-based animal health policies,” Tiu Laurel said.

The DA warned that it may revoke the declaration once new bird flu cases will be detected in the province.

The H5N1 subtype remains among the most disruptive animal diseases, threatening poultry producers and rural livelihoods, while also posing a public health concern due to its zoonotic potential.

Despite past outbreaks, Bataan’s poultry industry has expanded.

In 2024, the province produced 46,477 tons of poultry products, higher by 22 percent than the previous year’s production, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Bataan currently accounts for 1.6 percent of the national poultry output.

The DA said it would continue working with local government units, industry players and poultry raisers to strengthen biosecurity, sustain surveillance programs and thwart future outbreaks or reemergence of bird flu.