Bataan: Bataan province is now free from the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced on Friday. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. issued Memorandum Order No. 31, lifting the bird flu status following surveillance and monitoring that confirmed the absence of new infections.
According to Philippines News Agency, this declaration aims to restore confidence in Bataan's poultry sector and supports the long-term goal of securing food supply through science-based animal health policies. The province, a key poultry-producing area in Central Luzon, was previously under strict disease control protocols, including stamping out, quarantine, and disinfection of infected areas.
Surveillance efforts, such as blood sampling and virus testing, were carried out collaboratively by the DA, Bureau of Animal Industry, and the provincial government. Tiu Laurel noted that the bird flu-free status could be revoked if new HPAI cases are detected.
The province initially reported HPAI subtype H5N1 in 2022, which was subsequently contained. However, new outbreaks emerged in duck farms in Pilar in April and in Balanga in November 2023, followed by HPAI cases in quail farms in Hermosa in May 2024.
