Zamboanga City - - City Veterinarian Mario Ariola said Zamboanga City remains to be free from the avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu or the influenza that is caused by viruses adapted to birds.

This, based on the results of the serological testing conducted on blood samples taken from backyard native chickens by the Department of Agriculture (DA) recently.

Ariola said the 80 blood samples taken from backyard native chickens were tested negative for antibodies against the avian influenza virus.

The samples were collected by the Avian Influenza Surveillance Team of the Office of the City Veterinarian headed by Dr. Roie-Lee Cataluna, the officer-in-charge of the Animal Health Division in barangays Manicahan, Victoria and Mercedes and submitted to the DA for serological testing.

But even as all blood samples were tested negative of the virus, Ariola advised livestock raisers not to be complacent but to maintain clean and hygienic farms to sustain an “avian influenza free Zamboanga City”.

As a precautionary measure, Ariola said his office is closely coordinating with other concerned government agencies in order to prevent the occurrence of the diseases caused by the said virus.

The Wikipedia describes bird flu as similar to swine flu, dog flu, horse flu or human flu in that it refers to an illness caused by any of many different strains of influenza viruses that have adapted to a specific host. All known viruses that cause influenza in birds belong to the species: influenza A virus.

The World Health Organization has stated that the disease is an infectious disease of birds and occurs worldwide. While all birds are thought to be susceptible to infection with avian influenza viruses, many wild bird species carry these viruses with no apparent signs of harm.

Other bird species, including domestic poultry, develop disease when infected with avian influenza viruses. In poultry, the viruses cause two distinctly different forms of disease – one common and mild, the other rare and highly lethal. In the mild form, signs of illness may be expressed only as ruffled feathers, reduced egg production, or mild effects on the respiratory system. Outbreaks can be so mild they escape detection unless regular testing for viruses is in place, the WHO advisory said. (Sheila Covarrubias)