Sultan Kudarat's poultry industry received a clean bill of health from the Department of Agriculture (DA) as it was declared free from avian influenza (AI).
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. announced the news on Tuesday, Mar. 26, following rigorous cleaning, disinfection operations, and surveillance activities.
With over 90 days passing since the last round of tests, which all returned negative for the AI strain, chickens, ducks, and other poultry products from Sultan Kudarat are now deemed safe for transportation outside the province.
“It has been more than 90 days since the local government unit, DA regional field office, and the Bureau of Animal Industry [BAI] have completed the procedures and the testing for AI that didn’t show any new infections,” the deaprtment said.
The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) will consider AI-free status 28 days after the stamping out policy, along with the standard disinfection of the last AI-infested establishment and constant surveillance checks to prevent the disease from spreading to other poultry products.
The highly pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5N1 was initially found in Tacurong City and the towns of Isulan, Lebak, Lutayan, and President Quirino in March 2022.
More reports came out from June 2022 through February 2023, as AI had affected ducks, native and layer chickens, turkeys, guinea fowls, as well as geese.