The Department of Agriculture has declared Sultan Kuradat as avian influenza-free province, allowing movement of birds including chicken, duck and other poultry products within and outside the province.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said he declared Sultan Kudarat province AI-free given that more than 90 days have passed “since the end of the cleaning and disinfection operations and that surveillance activities yielded negative AI test results.”
Cases of the highly pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5N1 were first reported in the City of Tacurong and the towns of Isulan, Lebak, Lutayan and President Quirino in March 2022. Several more reports of AI cases affecting ducks, native and layer chicken, turkeys, guinea fowl and geese from June 2022 through February 2023.
Before cases were reported in early 2022, Sultan Kuradat had been free of the disease that infects birds, both wild and domestic. The World Organization for Animal Health allows a place previously free of AI to regain that status 28 days after the stamping out policy is completed, disinfection of the last affected establishment was carried out, and consequent surveillance demonstrate the absence of infection.
It has been more than 90 days since the local government unit, the DA regional field office, and the Bureau of Animal Industry have completed the WOAH procedures and the testing for AI that didn’t show any new infections.
