"Our country has now activated its national preparedness plan for the H5N1 flu, which experts say is more virulent than the A/H1N1, hence, the workshop is very important to assure the stakeholders and the general public that the government is seriously undertaking mitigation measures against influenza," Regional Director Carmelito A. Lupo of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Region 10, said.

Mr Lupo, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) in the region, said topics of the workshop include the different stages of the AI, particularly stages 1 and 2, on the 'animal side' and stages 3 and 4 on the 'human side' as well, as AI Risk Identification/Assessment, Hazard Analysis, Resource Inventory and Gaps Reduction.

Sponsored by the Department of Agriculture (DA) in collaboration with the Department of Health-Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD), the workshop will be participated in by members of the provincial DCCs of Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental and the highly urbanised City DCCs of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro with the cluster lead agencies of RDCC-10.

As defined, AI (bird flu) is a contagious and communicable disease of animals caused by viruses that normally infect only the birds and less commonly, pigs. And while all bird species are susceptible to the infection, domestic poultry flocks are especially vulnerable that can rapidly reach epidemic proportions.

Meanwhile, OCD-10 information officer, Ana Cañeda, said the formulation of a contingency plan aims to cope with this likely emergency is very timely and appropriate, in the spate of reports that an A/H1N1 infection has recently been monitored on a 10-year old girl in the country.

Among others, the activity aims to observe the inter-agency and multi-sectoral coordination in response to the AI emergency for maximum and judicious use of resources and to maximise use of available resources, such as a five per cent calamity fund, experts, hospital facilities, etc.

On the other hand, it also aims to undertake proactive approach to the AI hazard through continuous monitoring and surveillance of the environment and community empowerment for effective response to this hazard and to ensure the effective, fast and fair delivery of basic human services to victims needing immediate assistance during an AI outbreak.

Further Reading

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You can visit the Avian Flu page by clicking here.