Entry of migratory birds carrying bird flu remote, expert says

There is little possibility that migratory birds will carry the new mutant strain of H5N1 bird flu from other countries to the Philippines, a bird expert said. "We're confident na very remote na ang percentage na makarating yung Avian Flu through the migratory birds," Rey Aguinaldo, project manager at the Las Piñas Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area said in an interview aired over GMA News TV's "News To Go" on Friday. GMA News' Rida Reyes said in her report that around 60 species of birds migrate from Siberia and China to the LPPCHEA annually. But the report said that around 500 bird species actually pass through the Philippines every year. Malacañang had earlier said that concerned government agencies are closely monitoring the entry of poultry and wild birds from neighboring countries to prevent the possible entry of a mutant strain of H5N1 bird flu now spreading in China and Vietnam. "Ang mga migratory birds na pinapaniwalaan po na carrier ng bird flu virus ang maaaring maghatid sa atin ng bird flu virus," said Dr. Eric Tayag, head of the Department of Health National Epidemiological Center, in the report.

Bird flu or Avian Influenza is a contagious disease of birds ranging from mild to severe form of illness. It is transmitted to humans through inhalation or contamination with infected discharges or feces of sick chicken. [For more information on bird flu, click here] Recent reports, however, have quoted virologists as saying that there was no vaccine against the new bird flu strain called H5N1-2.3.2.1. But Aguinaldo assured that migratory birds which come as far as Siberia would already be dead before they could even reach the country if they were infected with the virus. "Yung flu natin sa kuwan ganun din manghjhina din, di na siya kakayaning maglakbay pa," he said. He likewise said that if ever such birds reach the country, they wouldn't come near humans by as far as 20 meters. "Alam mo mailap sila malayo ka palang maaamoy ka nila they will fly... malapit siguro ang masasabi mo 20 meters mag-fly na siya," he said. Tayag, for his part, also assured the public that the country hasn't been infiltrated yet by the virus. "Ang ating bansa po ay nanatiling bird-flu free since 2003," he said in the same report. The DOH, however, has set up thermal scanners in airports as a precautionary measure against people who might be carrying the virus.— Kim Tan/RSJ, GMA News