THREE city council committees would hold a joint meeting anytime this week as alarm bells were sounded here over the avian influenza outbreak in Pampanga.
Councilor Annie Daba said the city council’s committees on agriculture, social services, and health would discuss proposed measures in order to prevent the bird flu virus from affecting Cagayan de Oro.
Daba is the chairperson of the agriculture committee.
“Hino-on bisan wala tay dagko nga poultry dinhi sa ato pero kay gilibutan man ta sa mga dagkong poultry farms sa Libona, Bukidnon, Kili-og, Santa Fe, Mambatangan, ug na-a pay sa Opol. Ma-o nang dili ta angay magkompiyansa,” Daba said.
Councilor Ma. Lourdes Gaane, chairperson of the health committee, urged the City Veterinary Office and the City Economic Enterprise Department to monitor the traffic of poultry products in the city and to inspect local poultry farms.
“This is very alarming considering that poultry products coming from Luzon are also distributed here and nearby provinces,” Gaane said.
She said the virus was already monitored as early as May, and she did not rule out the possibility that poultry products from Luzon were brought to the city.
Gaane, a physician by profession, said the bird flu virus may infect humans.
She said symptoms were similar to those with ordinary flu, including sneezing.
“Those who feel the symptoms should drink plenty of water and juices, vitamins to restore body energy. Avian flu virus transmission to human is very rare but this is something considered as very fatal,” she claimed.
She also urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to monitor bird migration in Mindanao especially this September.
“The virus may be brought by migratory birds. These birds will stop along swamps, coastal areas, rivers, forests and ricefields,” Gaane said.
In Misamis Oriental, provincial board member Gerardo Sabal said the province’s legislature received official reports on the bird flu virus threat.
Sabal said Vice Gov. Jose Mari Pelaez would likely call for a special session of the provincial board if the need arises.
“Mahimo man nga mag-special session kami to look for additional measures kon unsa-on nga ma-prevent ang posibling spillover sa maong virus kon mograbi na gyud ang situation,” said Sabal.
He however said that Misamis Oriental has remained bird flu virus-free — from Lugait to Magsaysay towns. (nitz arancon and lito rulona)
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