World in disarray due to bird flu

The world is in disarray due to bird influenza. First the headlines: (1) APEC to discuss bird flu strategies; virus claims 60 lives in Asia; (2) Fighting bird flu in Southeast Asia will cost $100 M in next few years: UN; (3) China bans imports of poultry products from 14 countries; (4) European Union holds bird flu crisis talks; (5) Europe raises bird flu defenses; (6) World Health Organization eyes spread of bird flu with concern; (6) Bird flu invades Turkey, Romania.

While avian influenza primarily affects birds, H5N1 has killed more than 60 people in Southeast Asia since 2003. The big fear is that H5N1 may mutate acquiring genes from human influenza virus that would make it highly infectious as well as lethal – possibly killing millions worldwide as the influenza pandemic worldwide in 1918.

"We don’t want to create panic at this point. It’s a highly pathogenic aggressive virus but we in the European Union have to deal with that," said EU Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou.

The Philippines hosted recently a meeting of the ASEAN Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry(AMAF) and the avian flu was one of the problems tackled.

Agriculture Secretary Domingo F. Panganiban said:" We must keep the Philippines bird flu-free. If the virus of the avian flu (H5NI) is left uncontrolled it can develop into a regional pandemic."

Government efforts to keep the Philippines safe from the threat of bird flu include seeking WHO permission to manufacture the drug against avian flu called Tamiflu. In a visit to Olango, Island, Mactan where migratory birds from Siberia, Northern China and Japan stay, President Arroyo said: "It is important for us to continue to protect the country from the avian flu. It’s been in the region in the last two years but the Philippines has been spared."

Panganiban said the DA would continue checking entry points and poultry products from bird flu-infected countries.

"We are looking at 20 sites, possible vulnerable sites in the country at this point because this is the season for migratory birds," he said. These sites include the Candaba Swamps, Palawan, Zamboanga (including Zamboanga City), Surigao, del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Liguasan March, South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Antique in Western Visayas.

Panganiban said the DA has created task forces with the participation of the local government units (LGUs) in these 20 provinces. Regulatory services have been put in place including local government’s imposition of checkpoints in the movement of these animals, chicken and birds in those places, especially when the migratory birds land into these critical vulnerable areas, he added.

A total of 352 lovebirds from Netherlands and 467 Peking duckling from France through Bangkok, Thailand were prevented from entering the country. From Indonesia some 500 parrots were confiscated in General Santos City and later returned to their origin.

In the first half of this year, a total 1,475 eggs brought in by passengers from bird flu countries had been confiscated and properly disposed.

Panganiban warned that regardless of origin, all live and poultry products without necessary import licenses or clearances from the Bureau of Animal Industry and the Meat Inspection Service of the DA would be confiscated.

A total of 693 cartons of chicken parts and 24 metric tons of chicken, duck, and pork products without the necessary import were confiscated from May to June this year.