AGRICULTURE Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has officially declared the entire province of Bulacan free of highly pathogenic avian influenza, particularly the H5N1 strain. This declaration comes after a series of infections reported from 2022 through May of last year.
The agriculture chief stated that the AI-free status was confirmed more than 90 days following extensive cleaning and disinfection activities, along with the last surveillance yielding negative results.
Between January 2022 and February of last year, Bulacan recorded several cases of H5N1 infections in Baliwag City, as well as in the towns of Pulilan, Santa Maria, San Rafael, San Miguel, and San Ildefonso. Infections were reported among ducks, quail, native chickens, chicken layers, broiler breeders, and gamefowl during this 14-month period.
Depopulation, disinfection, and transport restrictions were implemented to prevent further spread of the animal infection. Surveillance zones of one kilometer and seven kilometers were established around infected farms, and subsequent tests yielded negative results for the virus.
According to the Bureau of Animal Industry’s AI monitoring, the last reported H5N1 infection was in early May of last year on a gamefowl farm in Santa Maria. As of March 2024, there are 135 registered poultry facilities in Bulacan.
