DOH Is Now On High Alert Due To Bird Flu Outbreak
DOH Secretary Paulyn Ubial said that the Department of Health (DOH) is now on high alert due to bird flu outbreak in Pampanga.
All the hospitals and other health facilities in Pampanga is now on high alert because of the avian flu threat, according to Ubial. She also said that the health department has already issued an advisory regarding the disease.
The health secretary has also instructed the local health officials to conduct test and examinations for the patients showing signs and symptoms of influenza-like disease such as a cough, cold, and flu for more than three days.
Previously, avian influenza Type-A, subtype H4 was allegedly started from a quail farm until the virus spread out to the various poultry farms in San Luis, Pampanga, according to Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol.
Around 37, 000 birds have been already died due to the disease and numerous farms have reported a mortality rate as of 100 percent.
DOH is now monitoring some cases of human flu-like diseases after receiving reports of human influenza outbreaks in Hong Kong and India.
Ubial also said that a team of epidemiologists were assigned to assist the Department of Agriculture (DA) and DOH to provide about 3, 000 test kits and protective equipment for the poultry farmers.
“Nagko-collaborate po tayo with DA para magbigyan ng personal protective equipment yung poultry workers at magsasagawa nung disinfection nung mga area with suspected bird flu cases at bibigyan natin sila ng mga vaccination for influenza,” said by Ubial quoted by GMA.
The DOH secretary explained that the poultry handlers have higher risk of obtaining the diseases. However, she assured the public that the chicken remains safe to eat, but they need to cook it properly before eating.
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