Via Inquirer.net, a Filipino news source: Bird flu surveillance starts in 3 Ilocos Norte towns. Excerpt:
The Provincial Veterinary office (PVET) has identified wetlands in the towns of Pagudpud, Paoay and Bangui as surveillance areas for migratory birds.
Provincial veterinarian Loida Chee said migratory birds had been sighted in large swamps in the village of Saud in Pagudpud, at the Manayon marshland in Bangui, and at the Paoay Lake since December last year.
“Migration season normally begins in September and they leave our area around April or May. We expect thousands of migratory birds to flock toward our area because of its proximity from Taiwan and other Chinese territories,” she said.
Migratory birds have been tagged as natural carriers of the avian influenza virus or bird flu.
The PVET has reactivated the provincial avian influenza task force in line with the bird-flu preparedness of the province.
