Sick, ‘undocumented chickens’ burned in Bogo

AT LEAST seven roosters, including day-old chicks, from Luzon were ordered burned after these were found to have been suffering from colds and diarrhea when they arrived at the Bogo City port in northern Cebu from Cataingan town, Masbate on Sunday, March 20, 2022.The roosters were first confiscated by local authorities after their owner failed to present their travel permits.They were then burned upon the instruction of the city veterinary office to prevent the entry of bird flu from Luzon.Masbate is located in the Bicol Region in the southern part of Luzon.“Na-intercept nato kay wala man gyuy documents sila, unya coming from Luzon. So ato siyang gi-block. Unya upon inspection, naay sip-on ug diarrhea,” said Bogo City veterinarian Dr. Lalaine Anne Angeles. “Basin naa silay kaila (in Masbate), so basin ingon ana unya nakalusot (Maybe they had a friend in Masbate who allowed them to board the ship),” Angeles said, referring to the traveler who was able to board the ship even without a travel permit for the animals.Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia issued Executive Order (EO) 9 on March 7, 2022 banning the importation of live poultry, wild birds, including day-old chicks, semen, fresh eggs, embryonated eggs, fertilizer and other poultry products from Luzon for 45 days due to the threat of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus subtype H5N1 or bird flu.The order took effect the following day, March 8.The order was issued to enable the government to protect the P12 billion poultry industry in Cebu after the Department of Agriculture confirmed a bird flu outbreak in farms in Pampanga and Bulacan in Luzon.Angeles said the city will continue to implement strict procedures to prevent the disease from reaching Cebu.“Pagsugod sa atong ban, amo sila ipaagi sa footbath. And then if matan-aw gyud nato if naay dala parehas anang naay mga bayong ug kanang sakyanan i-inspect gyud (When the ban took effect, all incoming passengers at the port were made to undergo a footbath, and if we see them carrying market bags or having vehicles, then these will be inspected),” Angeles said.H5N1 is classified as a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus and zoonotic, meaning it is also likely to infect humans.Angeles called on residents to help monitor the entry of chickens from Luzon. She also encouraged poultry owners to consult their office if their pets experience fever, colds and diarrhea.