Dar confirms bird flu detection at quail farm in Nueva Ecija

FILE: Agriculture Secretary William Dar in Quezon City on Monday (Feb. 24, 2020). (PNA photo by Oliver Marquez)

MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday confirmed the detection of a highly-pathogenic H5N6 avian influenza in a quail farm in Jaen, Nueva Ecija.

DA Secretary William Dar said live sample quails tested positive for avian influenza after it was reported that 1,500 out of 15,000 quails died in the farm at Barangay Ulanin-Pitak.

Dar said a total of 12,000 quails have been surgically stamped out, noting that cleaning and disinfection procedures were implemented accordingly.

He said immediate disease control measures were conducted to mitigate the spread of H5N6.

While humans can be infected by the virus through contact with secretions, Dar said there is no reported case of human infection in the country so far.

“The highly-pathogenic avian influenza is a disease of poultry that can affect humans. However, the H5N6 which affected the Philippines, has not affected humans in the country,’ he said.