New castle disease contained in affected areas in Benguet

By Susan C. Aro

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- The Provincial Veterinary Office reported the location-specific containment of  the New Castle disease  causing death among fowls following the intensified vaccination of birds or poultry in  affected areas in the province.

Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Miriam Tiongan said the provision of vaccines and vaccination in barangay-affected areas are the interventions the provincial government in coordination with the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Unit (DA-RFU) is undertaking to address the disease which already spread in the province.

To date a total of 118,661 heads were vaccinated. The provincial government provided vaccines totaling 86,000 doses while DA-RFU gave 25,900 doses.

Tiongan said they are also doing information campaign for wider awareness and understanding of the disease which hosts on avians.

Complementing these move, the Bureau of Animal Industry and the DA-RFU installed quarantine areas along entry points in Kennon Road and Poyopoy in Tuba, Banangan in Sablan and at the Kayapa-Nueva Vizcaya-Baguio Road, according to Tiongan.  

Based on PVO data, minimal deaths or avian sickness were recorded in Kapangan , Kabayan, Tublay,  Sablan, and in this town more than a month after the start of the intensified vaccination in affected barangays last January.

There were late recorded avian deaths and sickness which occurred early on and were only reported in the course of the surveillance carried out recently in Bakun, Bokod, Tuba, Mankayan and Itogon.These were also administered with vaccines, Tiongan said.  

18 barangays of the 10 towns where samples were taken were confirmed to have been stricken with the New Castle disease. A total of 1,292 either dead or sick avian were recorded as of March.  But Tiongan clarified that the upsurge of deaths which affected mostly the gaming fowl population is due only to the New Castle disease but infectious bronchitis.

Caused by virus, the New Castle Disease shows symptoms of respiratory distress, rasping and twisting of the neck or stargazing  among birds or avians

Its transmission is through direct contact with secretions like feces, from infected birds, contaminated feed, water, implements, and surroundings.  

The New Castle disease is said to have started in Central Luzon last year.