DENR Region XI

The Philippines along with Singapore and Brunei, has remained bird-flu free at present. But, the Philippine government should not be complacent because other Asian neighbors have already Bird Flu incidence. However, we are considered critical because we are among the countries visited by migratory birds, which are believe to be carrier of the said virus.

To disseminate to the public the good news of a Bird-Flu free Philippines and to emphasize the importance of continued vigilance, a press conference was held Monday, November 6, 2006 at the Apo View Hotel, Davao City with panelist including DENR-XI Regional Executive Director Ricardo Calderon; DENR-XI Regional Technical Director for Protected Area and Wildlife, Coastal Zone and Marine Management Emmanuel Isip; Protected Area and Wildlife Division Chief leonilo Rivera; Dr. Rogelio Peñera, Regional Epidemiology/surveillance Unit Head, Department of Health XI; Dr. Rafael T. Mercado, Livestock Division Chief of the Department of Agriculture; and Davao City Councilor Leonardo Avila III. Assistant Director General for Mindanao Efren Elbanbuena of the Philippine Information Agency acted as the moderator of the said pesscon which was also attended by members of the Davao tri-media.

Bird Flu, Avian Influenza, or H5N1 Virus is an Influenza Virus A virus subtype that occurs mainly in birds, is highly contagious among birds, and can be deadly to them. Outbreaks of Avian Influenza H5N1 occured among poultry in some countries in Asia in the late 2003 and early 2004, where more than 100 million birds in affected countries either died from disease or were killed to contain the outbreaks. In March 2004, the outbreak was reproted under control.

But starting June 2004, new outbreaks of influenza H5N1 among poultry and wild birds were reported in Asia. Since that time, the virus has spread geographically with reports of H5N1 infection in wild birds in Europe in mid-2005 and in Africa and North East in early 2006.

the H5N1 virus does not usually infect people but more than 200 cases have been reported. But because all influenza virus have the ability to change, scientists are concerned that one day, the virus could infect humans and spread easily from one person to another. according to Dr. Peñera, anti-viral medicines are not availablew in the market as these are reserved for pandemic, an epidemic of%2