Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. has declared the entire province of Bulacan free of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, particularly the H5N1 strain, after a series of infections was reported from 2022 through May last year.
The agri chief said the declaration of AI-free status was done more than 90 days since the cleaning and disinfection activities and the last surveillance that yielded negative results.
Between January 2022 and February last year, Bulacan recorded several cases of H5N1 infections in Baliwag City, and in the towns of Pulilan, Santa Maria, San Rafael, San Miguel and San Ildefonso. Infections were reported on ducks, quail, native chickens, chicken layers, broiler breeders and gamefowl during the 14-month period.
Depopulation, disinfection and transport restrictions were implemented to prevent further spread of the animal infection.
One- and seven-kilometer surveillance zones were put up in infected farm areas and tests yielded negative results of the virus.
According to the Bureau of Animal Industry’s AI monitoring, the last reported H5N1 infection was in early May last year in a gamefowl farm in Santa Maria.
As of end-March this year, a total 135 poultry facilities were registered in Bulacan.
