MAFAR conducts simultaneous surveillance of AI, FMD

The Research and Regulatory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform, in partnership with the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian- Maguindanao (OPVet), has conducted surveillance on Avian Influenza (AI) and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) simultaneously in the Province of Maguindanao del Sur.

On January 30 to February 8, MAFAR monitored the municipalities of Ampatuan, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, and Shariff Aguak within the 1- km and 7-km surveillance zone of the affected barangay of the said area.

It can be recalled that the barangay Kauran of Ampatuan Maguindanao was affected by the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Subtype H5N1 on April 2022 in a backyard mallard duck farm.

The surveillance aims to demonstrate the absence of influenza type A virus and regain the AI free status in the municipality of Ampatuan province of Maguindanao.

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) surveillance was also conducted on small and large ruminants in the same municipalities in compliance with the mandatory bi-annual surveillance of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), considering that the OIE officially recognized the Philippines as FMD Free country Without Practicing Vaccination.

To maintain this status, the Philippines has to submit documented evidence that for the past 12 months, surveillance has been implemented to detect clinical signs of FMD and demonstrate no evidence of infection with FMDV in unvaccinated animals.

Blood samples were taken from ruminant animals, and swabs and blood samples were collected from the poultry for testing a total of 136 samples for AI and 41 for FMD. Dewormer and vitamins were also administered to animals.

In addition, Dr. Raheima A. Mangindra led the activity with the Regulatory Officers of MAFAR and the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian headed by Dr. Yussouf Malenkov Mangudadatu with technical staff.