Around 600,000 chickens in Pampanga province, north of Manila, will be culled to help prevent the spread of the H5 avian flu virus, Secretary Emmanuel Piñol of the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Wednesday. The Agriculture department earlier assured poultry farmers that they would be compensated for the culled chickens at P80 per head and will offer them recovery package. The Agriculture department has also asked Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald de la Rosa for more police personnel to man quarantine stations. He urged poultry farmers from other parts of the country to intensify their production to make for any shortfall caused by the avian flu outbreak in Pampanga. Various areas are on high alert especially where there are poultry farms, public markets, cockpits and homes with fighting cocks, foul or pets.

Source: Manila Times August 16, 2017 14:26 UTC