Bird flu alert up in NegOcc

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Game fowl breeders and cockfighting aficionados have been advised to take extra precautions against avian influenza, also known as bird flu, as Negros Occidental province has raised the alert level against the spread of the disease.

Provincial veterinarian Renante Decena said Negros Occidental is a top exporter in the game fowl industry, with P4 billion worth of animals, exporting 200,000 fighting cocks every year or about P1 billion in sales. This excluded materials and feeds for their upkeep, estimated at P2 billion, he added.

Decena reminded Negrenses to be extra careful when visiting countries with past cases of bird flu, like Hong Kong and China. Upon their return to the province, they should not enter their farms immediately, and stay away from their game fowls for about three days to prevent the transmission of the virus they may have gotten in their travels, he said.

The Provincial Veterinary Office has been monitoring also migratory birds, particularly in San Enrique town and Himamaylan City for possible contamination of the local poultry industry, he said. — (FREEMAN)