Bird's death in Sorsogon probed for avian virus link

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday said it was looking into reports that a migratory bird found dead in Sorsogon province could have died of bird flu, the dreaded avian disease now wreaking havoc in neighboring countries. Doctor Eric Tayag, chief of the DOH-National Epidemiology Center, said health officials learned of the death of a heron after conducting a heightened information drive among local folk. Part of the information campaign, Tayag said, asked residents to report any "suspicious deaths" of fowl and other birds. The heron, a migratory bird, was found dead at an undisclosed field. "Birds really die there, but what's important now is that agriculture officials know that we at the DOH are waiting for the results of their investigation on the matter," Tayag said in Filipino during an interview on dzBB radio. He noted that in other Asian countries coping with the avian influenza, the carriers of the virus appear healthy but the other birds who eventually contract the disease are the ones that die. "We (Health officials) will take swift action once we learn of any indication that we should be alarmed," Tayag assured. In a separate interview with GMA News, Tayag said the investigation requires close coordination with other government agencies. "The Agriculture Department, the Bureau of Animal Industry, will send a team [to Sorsogon]. Because that was a migratory bird, we will need the assistance of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. We will act accordingly based on their assessment of the situation," Tayag said in Filipino. The Philippines, Singapore and Brunei are the only remaining "bird flu-free countries in Southeast Asia," the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported last February 4. The DA has imposed an importation ban against poultry and live birds from Japan in the wake a bird flu scare in the region. In a statement, the DA said that it "has temporarily banned imports of live birds along with poultry and its products from Japan following official reports on the presence of the avian influenza (AI) or bird flu virus in that country." Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said that, "There is a possibility that travelers may bring in pet birds, poultry and poultry products from Japan ... Thus, I have ordered DA quarantine officers and inspectors at all major airports and seaports to stop and confiscate all shipments of poultry and poultry products into the country originating from Japan." - GMANews.TV