GUESTS from Norala, South Cotabato, and M’lang in North Cotabato are encouraged to postpone visits to the Philippine Eagle Foundation, following the bird flu outbreak reported by the Department of Agriculture–Bureau of Animal Industry (DA–BAI).
PEF issued the advisory on Wednesday following the Oct. 30 report of DA-BAI.
“We kindly ask guests from these areas to consider postponing their visit until the region is cleared by BAI,” PEF said.
“If travel can’t be avoided, please be mindful of our biosecurity protocols to help protect our eagles and other wildlife,” it added.
The PEF issued the Avian Influenza Prevention and Contingency Plan, highlighting guidelines in the conservation facility.
Guests are to follow footbath and disinfection at all guest entrances and exits, and have only limited access to non-contact viewing areas only.
For additional measures, Birds at Plaza One will be placed in their respective cages to provide a safer environment and increase distance between animals and guests.
A wheel bath will be installed at the main gate to disinfect all vehicle tires entering the facility.
Spraying of pathways using approved disinfectants will be done two to three times daily.
The full guidelines can be accessed here: https://l1nq.com/QUcUy
The BAI–Animal Disease Diagnosis and Reference Laboratory (BAI–ADDRL) confirmed that a HPAI Subtype H5N8 was detected on October 17 in two smallhold duck farms during routine surveillance in Mlang, where the first affected farm was immediately depopulated and was subjected to disinfection, quarantine, and monitoring.
Meanwhile, authorities are tracing the second farm had already sold its flock prior to verification.
The agency also confirmed detections of HPAI subtypes H5, H9, N1, and N2 in a commercial duck farm in Norala on Oct. 20.
The DA Regional Field Office 12 (DA-RFO 12) immediately coordinated with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MAFAR–BARMM) as the affected flock was reported to have been transferred to Maguindanao del Sur before the laboratory results were released.
In the October 30 statement, DA-BAI said the current detections of the High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza are “localized, well-contained and pose no immediate threat to food safety.”
“Poultry products from monitored and accredited farms remain safe for consumption as the HPAI virus does not spread through properly cooked poultry meat or eggs,” the agency said.
It added that continuous surveillance and monitoring are being conducted to ensure early detection and rapid response to any potential spread.
