No Newcastle Disease Virus case in Pangasinan
THERE is still no confirmation of some poultry farms in Pangasinan being affected by the Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV), officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Region 1 said.
Dr. Constancia Diaz, chief of DA’s Regional Animal Disease and Diagnostic Laboratory, said during the KBP Forum Thursday here that the only confirmed cases of NDV in Region 1 through laboratory testing are in Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud and Burgos) and La Union (San Fernando City).
“They submitted samples to Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (of the DA) to Sta. Barbara town and were brought to Manila,” she said.
Diaz said since Tarlac already recorded NDV cases, 17 checkpoints in Region 1 were set up to ensure the virus would not spread to chickens transported to Pangasinan.
She added that Pangasinan has eight checkpoints that strictly monitor if chickens, whether live or in meat form transported are healthy and documents like veterinary certificate, shipping permit are checked.
Dr. Gilbert Rabara, chief of the DA –Regional Field Office 1 Pangasinan Research and Experiment Center, said chickens that died in Pangasinan poultry farms are suspected to have suffered from common respiratory disease. It happens when there is warm temperature during daytime and cold during night, he added.
“It’s the same with humans who suffer this (disease) during this kind of weather but this can be remedied if proper medication is administered at once,” he said.
Diaz said the NDV is not new in the Philippines but backyard chicken raisers just ignore it.
She said there are vaccines sold in agricultural supply stores that would protect their poultry.
Some of the symptoms are gasping, depression, coughing, paralysis, twisting of the head, greenish white diarrhea, Diaz said.
She said during initial signs of affliction, chickens must be segregated and raisers must observe bio security measures like disinfection, limit entry or exit of humans or animals, putting of footbath, among others.
Rabara said while there is no adverse effect to health of consumers of meat from NDV afflicted chickens, “they may not like it anyway because it (meat) is tasteless or bland”. (Tita Roces)
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