By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

In response to reports claiming poultry sales in Bacolod City have dropped due to the recent avian influenza, or bird flu, outbreak in Pampanga, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia assured city residents poultry products in the city are safe.
During a recent interview, the mayor said it was “human nature” to avoid consuming chicken and other poultry products, given current events, but affirmed the city has been closely coordinating with the Department of Agriculture and the Regional Quarantine Office from Iloilo City to ensure poultry products entering the province are safe.
The mayor said he will be requesting signage be posted at the city’s public markets to assure customers it is safe to eat chicken.
Last week, the city government issued an alert regarding bird flu, after the said outbreak was declared in Luzon.
The City Health Office (CHO) also assured the public that transmission of the virus between birds and humans is rare, although they still requested local poultry farmers in the city to report any excessive deaths among their poultry population./WDJ