18 October 2005
DOH, DA watching bird sanctuaries
THE Department of Health and the Department of Agriculture are keenly monitoring 20 bird sanctuaries throughout the country where migratory birds from other countries are flocking at this time of the year.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, speaking to newsmen in Dagupan City, said this is part of the ongoing bird flu protection program designed by both DOH and DA to protect Filipinos from avian influenza or bird flu which is predicted by the World Health Organization to be the most likely source of a feared pandemic (epidemic across continents) “sooner or later.”
Duque called on barangays near these bird sanctuaries to discourage their residents from shooting these migratory bids. Shooting them, Duque said, would disorient the migratory birds and force them to mix with local birds and fowls, like chicken and ducks, thus increasing the danger of disease transmission.
He warned that if migratory birds carry the bird flu virus, they may pass on the disease which could trigger a full blown epidemic in the country, as its H5NI strain is said to possess capability to transmit itself to humans.
Duque was here last Sunday to inaugurate with House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. a newly completed dialysis center at the Region 1 Medical Center here, the first and only one of its kind among government hospitals in the Ilocos.
In a talk to newsmen, Duque admitted that migratory birds from countries like China, Vietnam and Thailand are now flocking to various bird sanctuaries in the Philippines at this time of the year to escape the onset of the cold months in those regions.
Confirming that bird flu is really alarming, Duque said the DOH and the DA have prepared a bird flu protection program to ensure that the dreaded disease does not spread in the country
Phases I and II of the program are being handled by the DA and Phase III and IV by the DOH, Duque said.
At the same time, Duque called on the media to undertake proper management of factual information about the disease so that the people will not be unduly alarmed.
He said the Philippines is still lucky because no bird flu incident has yet been noted in any part of the country.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, speaking to newsmen in Dagupan City, said this is part of the ongoing bird flu protection program designed by both DOH and DA to protect Filipinos from avian influenza or bird flu which is predicted by the World Health Organization to be the most likely source of a feared pandemic (epidemic across continents) “sooner or later.”
Duque called on barangays near these bird sanctuaries to discourage their residents from shooting these migratory bids. Shooting them, Duque said, would disorient the migratory birds and force them to mix with local birds and fowls, like chicken and ducks, thus increasing the danger of disease transmission.
He warned that if migratory birds carry the bird flu virus, they may pass on the disease which could trigger a full blown epidemic in the country, as its H5NI strain is said to possess capability to transmit itself to humans.
Duque was here last Sunday to inaugurate with House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. a newly completed dialysis center at the Region 1 Medical Center here, the first and only one of its kind among government hospitals in the Ilocos.
In a talk to newsmen, Duque admitted that migratory birds from countries like China, Vietnam and Thailand are now flocking to various bird sanctuaries in the Philippines at this time of the year to escape the onset of the cold months in those regions.
Confirming that bird flu is really alarming, Duque said the DOH and the DA have prepared a bird flu protection program to ensure that the dreaded disease does not spread in the country
Phases I and II of the program are being handled by the DA and Phase III and IV by the DOH, Duque said.
At the same time, Duque called on the media to undertake proper management of factual information about the disease so that the people will not be unduly alarmed.
He said the Philippines is still lucky because no bird flu incident has yet been noted in any part of the country.
