4 virus detection machines to boost drive against bird flu
Manila Bulletin (January 06, 2006)

DAVAO CITY — The Department of Agriculture (DA) will purchase four units of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) virus detection machines at R6.5 million each to boost efforts to make the country safe from the death-threatening bird flu (avian influenza).

It was feared that the infection may come from migratory birds and other viral carriers.

Dr. Carlos Mendoza, DA deputy cluster head for Mindanao, said Mindanao will have one of the four PCR units.

The machine detects virus infection within two to three hours in poultry farms, he said.

The PCR machine could also be used to detect foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus, the DA said.

Mendoza said DA had received P140 million from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to fund the government’s bird-flu protection and prevention programs.

President Arroyo had earlier approved a R2.5-billion budget proposed by DA for the fight against the dreaded bird flu.

He said DA in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH) is currently working for the manufacture of vaccines on humans to avoid bird flu infection.

"We will be able to manufacture the vaccines in due time," he said.

Agriculture Secretary Domingo Panganiban had said his department is looking at Candaba Swamp, Palawan, Zamboanga, including Zamboanga City, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Liguasan Marsh in South Cotabato, North Cotabato and Antique in Western Visayas as critical and vulnerable areas where migratory birds may bring in the virus.

Meanwhile, the Region XI Disaster Coordinating Center (RDCC XI) was placed under full alert due to the continuous heavy rains.

RDCC XI Director Carmelito Lupo said he has alerted all personnel who are on round-the-clock monitoring operations, especially in flood-prone areas.

The areas, which are vulnerable to floods, include Monkayo, Compostela Valley; Dujali and Carmen in Davao del Norte; Banaybanay in Davao Oriental; and 59 barangays in this city, Lupo said.