BAI ditches poultry shipment test as no bird flu detected in Central Visayas

Local

THE Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) has waived the avian influenza (AI) testing per shipment of poultry, other bird species, eggs and poultry products and by-products in Central Visayas.

This is after authorities found no cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPIA) Subtype H5N1 following a series of surviellance activities in the identified high-risk areas in the provinces of Bohol and Cebu.

"To date, there were no HPAI cases recorded in all provinces in Region VII,” BAI said in a memorandum.

The negative test result of HPAI was submitted by the Department of Agriculture - Regional Field Office VII to BAI, and was used as a basis to allow backyard and commerical farms in Region 7 to trasnport thier commodities, subject to other documentary requirements set by DA.

With this, the DA-7 announced that the AI testing for shipment of poultry, other bird species, eggs and poultry products and by-products aside from live ducks is waived from May 29 to September 26, 2026.

"Tungod niini, dili na kinahanglan ang pag-kolekta sa blood samples of cloacal swab samples alang sa AI testing sa dili pa ang shipment o transportasyon sulod sa maong panahon, gawas lamang sa live ducks ug mga higayon nga gikinahanglan ang dugang nga disease surveillance pinaagi sa mga awtorisadong otoridad" DA-7 said.

HPIA or commonly known as "bird flu" is a contagious acute respiratory viral disease othat affects wild and domestic birds.

In the Philippines, bird flu was detected in Isable, Cotabato and South Cotabato last year.

Though DA-BAI stressed that HPAI are localized, well-contained and pose no immediate threat to food safety.(MyTVCebu)