THE Department of Agriculture (DA) in Davao Region has now stepped up its campaign against the dreaded Influenza A or H1N1 virus, although there has been no confirmed transmission from swines to humans.
In an interview with Sun.Star Davao, DA Southern Mindanao Executive Director Roger Chio said they have created monitoring teams down to the barangay level.
"There has been no reported swine flu affecting our hog farms here in the region," Chio said. "But we are monitoring them."
"The monitoring team that we created during the height of the avian flu scare, we will be using the same team to monitor the swine flu," Chio said. "We are monitoring the seaports and airports for the possible smuggling of live hogs here in the city."
Meanwhile, the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) is mapping all backyard piggeries in the city as part of their role in the task force created by the city government to prevent the entry of the dreaded Influenza A or H1N1 virus. The mapping on commercial piggeries was already completed.
DCPO director Senior Superintendent Ramon Apolinario said they have started their mapping immediately after Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte created Task Force Swine Influenza.
Duterte signed Executive Order 11-2009 creating and constituting the Swine Influenza Task Force early this month. Initial moves, however, have already been made to facilitate actions spurred by the EO.
The Surveillance Team and Rapid Action Team have been activated along with the action plans in case of an outbreak. The Information and Education Team has also started to translate flyers on swine flu in local dialect.
Duterte met with officials of the Department of Agriculture, City Veterinary's Office, City Health Office, Bureau of Immigration, and the police last April 30 to discuss precautionary measures in the wake of reports that the virus had killed people in Mexico, United States, and Canada.
