The Department of Agriculture (DA) has declared Ilocos Sur as among the provinces free from avian influenza.
This was formalized under memorandum circular 18 signed by senior undersecretary Domingo Panganiban.
Ilocos Sur had eight cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5N1 confirmed through laboratory testing last October and November that infected chicken layers, native chickens and ducks
Upon detection, the provincial government of Ilocos Sur and the municipality of Sta. Maria, in coordination with DA regional field office Ilocos and the Bureau of Animal Industry, conducted immediate depopulation, cleaning and disinfection, movement restrictions and surveillance in the affected areas.
Continued disease monitoring and surveillance of the affected farms yielded negative results for influenza type A virus for more than 90 days, and thus the declaration.
Earlier this year, the DA also declared Rizal province, Quezon province and South Cotabato as avian influenza free.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show Ilocos Sur producing 4,207,218 heads of chicken, equivalent to 0.35 percent of the total 1,196,972,262 slaughtered for the period.
The province slaughtered 43,942 ducks last year.
