DA moves to keep Pangasinan Avian Flu-free
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) recently conducted a three-day Avian Influenza (AI) Contingency Planning /Formulation Workshop for Pangasinan to sustain the present status of the province as an Avian flu-free area.
Attended by 35 representatives from the different program key implementors, the participants mapped out strategies to ensure a province-wide preparedness on AI which complements the national efforts.
The workshop, undertaken in coordination with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), also aimed to enhance the local governments’ capacity to respond rapidly and effectively in case of avian flu incursion in the province.
“It is better to plan when it is not needed than to have no plans when needed,” said Jommel Merano, Training Officer OCD-Central Office Training Division.
A series of meetings have been scheduled for the finalization and approval of the drafted AI policies and contingency plans.
Avian Flu / Bird Flu is an infectious and contagious disease in chickens, ducks and other birds which can be transmitted from bird to bird, bird to human, and human to human.
As of Sept. 2008, there were 387 AI cases reported worldwide and out of it were 245 reported fatalities but no human to human recorded cases.
Indonesia and Vietnam were the leading AI affected countries.#
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