Full transparency
Consumers are avoiding not just poultry meat but also eggs, including duck eggs developed into that favorite Filipino delicacy, balut. These days, people avoid even walking near chicken farms in their communities, according to poultry farm owners and workers.
Now the Department of Agriculture has confirmed that the avian flu first detected in the town of San Luis in Pampanga has spread to two areas in neighboring Nueva Ecija.
If the outbreak in San Luis had been accurately diagnosed back in April and reported to agriculture authorities, containment would have been easier. But the country had never encountered bird flu and the farm owners probably thought their chickens and ducks were merely suffering from ordinary flu that is common during the rainy season.
Now the principal concerns are to contain the outbreak ASAP and to prevent the virus from jumping to humans. A degree of paranoia can be healthy in this case. People in and around affected areas should immediately report symptoms of flu, whether in humans or fowl, not only to prevent the further spread of avian flu but also to prevent the virus from killing people, as it has done in some countries.
Any attempt to conceal the presence of the virus will only delay the response required to stop this contagion, and prolong the damage to private enterprises and local economies.
No one knows how long it might take to eliminate the virus and how many more chickens, ducks and quail would have to be culled. Biohazard experts are also eyeing ways of keeping away migratory birds, which teem in the swamps of Pampanga. The government must assist poultry farmers and workers in switching to other livelihood sources during this crisis.
Additional effort must also be made to dispel misperceptions about avian flu and inform the public of poultry products, especially cooked chicken, that are safe for consumption. The information campaign must include the large number of food products that use eggs. Poultry breeders in other parts of the country must also be fully briefed on preventive measures.
Fear of the unknown triggers panic and unreasonable avoidance of all poultry products. At all times, the government must ensure full transparency about the steps being taken as well as the areas that are affected.
