Nina FRANCO G. REGALA at CHARINA CLARISSE L. ECHALUCE

SAN LUIS, Pampanga – Isasailalim sa state of calamity ang Pampanga kasunod ng pagkumpirma ng Department of Agriculture (DA)sa kauna-unahang avian flu outbreak sa bansa.

Aabot sa halos 40,000 pugo at bibe ang pinatay sa mga poultry farm sa bayan ng San Luis matapos makumpirma ang presensiya ng mabilis makahawa na strain ng bird flu.

A poultry seller readies her chickens for another day of business at the dry section of the Nepa Market in Quezon City. The Department of Agriculture has confirmed an outbreak of avian influenza virus in Pampanga where 37,000 birds from at least 6 poutlry farms already died in Barangay San Agustin, San Luis, Pampanga. According to Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñon, up to 400,000 birds would be culled to contain the outbreak. (PHOTO/ ALVIN KASIBAN)
A poultry seller readies her chickens for another day of business at the dry section of the Nepa Market in Quezon City. The Department of Agriculture has confirmed an outbreak of avian influenza virus in Pampanga where 37,000 birds from at least 6 poutlry farms already died in Barangay San Agustin, San Luis, Pampanga. According to Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñon, up to 400,000 birds would be culled to contain the outbreak. (PHOTO/ ALVIN KASIBAN)

Human-Interest

Ang Pasko sa loob ng selda at mga munting hiling sa likod ng rehas

Ang outbreak, ang unang insidente sa bansa, ay nadiskubre sa isang poultry farm sa Barangay San Agustin sa San Luis, sinabi kahapon ni Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol.

Batay sa mga paunang report, sinabi ni Piñol na ang unang outbreak ng subtype H5 virus ay nagsimula sa isang quail farm, “killing 50 of 70 ducks, wiping out all the quails, and spreading in the poultry farms.” Nasa 37,000 sa poultry ang namatay dahil sa outbreak.

“There were said to be indications as early as May but the commercial poultry operators did not report it immediately. Then the situation worsened around July,” sabi pa ng kalihim.

Upang mapigilan ang pagkalat ng virus sa lalawigan, sinabi ni Piñol na ipinag-utos din niya ang pagpatay sa 400,000 pang ibon sa munisipalidad, na may kabuuang halaga na P28 milyon.

SAAN NAGSIMULA?

Ipinag-utos din ng kalihim ang agarang pagpapakalat ng mga quarantine officer sa may isang kilometrong radius, at tiniyak ang pagpapapatay ng mas marami pang ibon, kabilang ang mga dayo sa lalawigan, upang maprotektahan ang buong poultry industry.

Sinabi ni Pinol na inaalam pa lang ng DA kung saan nagmula ang virus, bagamat inihayag niyang posibleng nagmula ito sa mga migratory bird at sa mga naipuslit na Peking duck mula sa China.

Ipinagbawal na rin ng DA ang pagluluwas ng mga manok at bibe mula sa Luzon patungo sa iba pang bahagi ng bansa.

NAKAMAMATAY SA TAO

Samantala, bagamat bibihirang mangyari na mahawahan ang tao ng avian flu, malaki naman ang tsansang mamatay ang pasyente kung sakali, ayon sa Department of Health (DoH).

“Major epidemic of bird flu in the US have not documented any cross over to human. However in Vietnam and HKK, a case of human had been identified and died. Cross infection to human have minimal [chance] but fatal,” sabi ni Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial.

Sinegundahan naman ito ng World Health Organization (WHO) nang sabihing “not all avian influenza viruses cause disease in humans. However, some can infect humans and cause severe disease. The most well-known of these are avian influenza H5N1 viruses which circulate in poultry.”

“We are advising the public to take flu precautions; cover mouth and nose when sneezing and coughing, wash hands often; take plenty water and juices. Have enough rest and sleep. Do not go near wild birds or go to farms with fowls,” sabi ni Ubial.

“If you have flu symptoms that last longer than three days or feel very weak, see doctor or go to nearest hospital for testing if its bird flu,” dagdag pa ng kalihim.