ILOILO CITY – The Department of Agriculture (DA) reported Monday, Dec. 5, the first case of bird flu in Western Visayas after chicken in a poultry farm in Barangay Cagay, Roxas City, the capital of Capiz, have been infected.
“The region now is on high alert for the first case of Avian Influenza Type A,” said DA-6 Director Jose Albert Barrogo.
The DA-6 received reports of high mortality among chicken ready to lay eggs in a backyard farm.
Swab samples were collected and sent to the DA-Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) for confirmatory tests. Out of the 10 samples taken, five tested positive for the H5N1 bird flu subtype.
“The source of the infection came from ready to lay birds that were sourced from Luzon,” said Barrogo.
The DA-6 is closely coordinating with the city government of Roxas City, the barangay officials of Cagay, and the Capiz Provincial Veterinary Office to implement measures in the affected area.
“The composite team has disposed and buried 126 layer hens, native chickens, and ducks. Disinfection was already done,” said Roxas City Mayor Ronnie Dadivas.
“The Roxas City government assures the public that preventive measures have already been taken to prevent the spread and to protect the general welfare of the public,” added Dadivas.