Government launches ‘Iwas Bird Flu’ campaign

The government, through a funding assistance from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has launched a nationwide campaign, dubbed “Iwas Bird Flu,” to rally the whole country in preventing the entry of the virus into the Philippines and to be prepared for any potential bird flu incidence.

“We have been successful in preventing the entry of avian flu, but we have to warn the people that bird flu can happen, and everyone can help to ensure that we remain bird flu free,” said Dr. Samuel Animas, the national project coordinator for the National Avian Influenza Task Force (NAITF) and chief of the Bureau of Animal Industry’s Animal Health Division.

“Iwas Bird Flu” is part of the government’s intensive educational campaign aimed at raising the level of awareness and encourage all stakeholders, including the private sector involved in the poultry industry and other related businesses as well as the general public, to support the NAITF in its work.

A bird flu outbreak can start when domestic birds get infected as they roam freely, share water supply with migratory birds, and use the water supply that may be contaminated by infected droppings. Migratory birds coming from avian influenza-infected countries can readily bring the virus into the Philippines.

The NAITF has developed a comprehensive Avian Influenza Protection Program which is continually being implemented. Under this program, strict importation bans are in place and quarantine measures are being implemented at all entry ports. Regular surveillance activities are also being carried out, particularly in areas near wetlands which are classified as high risk in virus spread due to the presence of migratory birds.

The government has also been effectively regulating the domestic movement of local poultry including chickens, ducks, quails, turkeys and geese.

The NAITF is a multi-agency group formed in 2005 to plan and implement the government’s prevention and prepared-ness program against the avian flu. It is composed of the Department of Agricul-ture as lead agency in close coordination with the Department of Health, Depart-ment of Environment and Natural Re-sources, Department of Interior and Local Government and the local government units, National Disaster Coordinating Council, and the Philippine National Police, other government agencies and the private sector poultry Industry.