juggernaut
July 8th, 2005, 02:26 PM
The Philippine Star, 07/08/05
Philippines announces first case of bird flu
07/09 10:00:09 AM
MANILA (AP) - The Philippines announced Friday the first case of bird flu had been discovered in the country on a duck farm north of Manila, but authorities said it doesn't appear to be the dangerous strain of the virus.
Since 2003, tens of million of chickens have died of bird flu or have been slaughtered in East and Southeast Asia. At least 54 people have also died in Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia, most of them after coming into contact with birds infected with the H5N1 virus _ the most deadly strain of bird flu.
"I can assure you there's no indication it's the H5N1," said Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, who resigned last week to fight accusations of tax fraud but has stayed on until his successor is in place. "The situation is it's a low pathogen. It's not high. That's the only statement I can make so that people don't have to panic."
Health Secretary Francisco Duque said avian flu was detected at a duck farm in the town of Calumepit, in Bulacang province north of Manila.
"There is no cause for alarm," Duque told GMA television. "Even the ducks are not sick."
Still, the ducks will have to be culled. Samples from them are being sent to Australia for further examination, Duque said.
The Philippines, which had been the only country in Asia with a significant poultry industry not affected by bird flu, has taken a number of precautionary measures _ including strict bans on poultry imports from affected countries _ in an effort to keep it out.
The Philippines' 150-billion-peso (2.72 billion US dollars) poultry industry employs 300,000 people.
Officials have been closely watching 25 areas, mostly swamplands and watering holes of migratory birds which can carry the virus, while imposing an import ban on live or uncooked poultry from at least 11 affected countries.
In June, Yap said a three-kilometer (two-mile) quarantine zone would be imposed around any area where more than 3 percent of the poultry population has died.
If the virus is subsequently confirmed in that area, poultry would be culled and the quarantine zone would be enlarged to seven kilometers (more than four miles).
Philippines announces first case of bird flu
07/09 10:00:09 AM
MANILA (AP) - The Philippines announced Friday the first case of bird flu had been discovered in the country on a duck farm north of Manila, but authorities said it doesn't appear to be the dangerous strain of the virus.
Since 2003, tens of million of chickens have died of bird flu or have been slaughtered in East and Southeast Asia. At least 54 people have also died in Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia, most of them after coming into contact with birds infected with the H5N1 virus _ the most deadly strain of bird flu.
"I can assure you there's no indication it's the H5N1," said Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, who resigned last week to fight accusations of tax fraud but has stayed on until his successor is in place. "The situation is it's a low pathogen. It's not high. That's the only statement I can make so that people don't have to panic."
Health Secretary Francisco Duque said avian flu was detected at a duck farm in the town of Calumepit, in Bulacang province north of Manila.
"There is no cause for alarm," Duque told GMA television. "Even the ducks are not sick."
Still, the ducks will have to be culled. Samples from them are being sent to Australia for further examination, Duque said.
The Philippines, which had been the only country in Asia with a significant poultry industry not affected by bird flu, has taken a number of precautionary measures _ including strict bans on poultry imports from affected countries _ in an effort to keep it out.
The Philippines' 150-billion-peso (2.72 billion US dollars) poultry industry employs 300,000 people.
Officials have been closely watching 25 areas, mostly swamplands and watering holes of migratory birds which can carry the virus, while imposing an import ban on live or uncooked poultry from at least 11 affected countries.
In June, Yap said a three-kilometer (two-mile) quarantine zone would be imposed around any area where more than 3 percent of the poultry population has died.
If the virus is subsequently confirmed in that area, poultry would be culled and the quarantine zone would be enlarged to seven kilometers (more than four miles).