"Balut" scarcer after

avian influenza scare

TAGBILARAN CITY, August 25, 2017 (PIA) --If you find balut (boiled duck embryonated eggs) in Tagbilaran and in Bohol scarce now, that is because two of four Bohol balut traders here have temporarily stopped accepting consignments from Manila. 

Bohol provincial veterinarian (PVet) Dr. Stella Marie Lapiz shared that the suspension of the transport ban on poultry and bird products including duck eggs has something to do with it. 

She hinted that the reduced supply may come following the reported AI or bird flu outbreak in Pampanga and Nueva Ecija. 

AI is a specie specific disease for feathered animals, but mutation has also brought the vairus to animals and recently, to humans, according to Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 

When the brisk balut business could be affected with people refraining from buying even for products not affected by the AI, consignees came to her office for information and advice. 

According to Bohol quarantine officer Dr. Maria Eleonor Abisado, Bohol consumes about 120,000 baluts per month, these are sent to Bohol where balut retailers cook them. 

At the Kapihan sa PIA, Dr. Lapiz said she advised the local consignees to just let the 21 days pass after the DA BAI could already have identified the accredited farms outside of the bird flu affected areas.

The DA Administrative Order which has lifted the transport ban on poultry meat and products immediately upon learning of the break out of the disease, but has also lifted the ban a few days later. 

It may be recalled that Department of Agriculture Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) through Chief Veterinary Officer Enrico Garzon Jr., DVM, issued the transport ban on poultry products from Luzon to Visayas and Mindanao, following the reported outbreak and as the government scrambles to contain the spread of the deadly avian virus. 

Last week, the DA lifted the transport ban of fresh table eggs, fresh frozen chicken meat and cooked poultry products from Luzon as long as these are sourced out from accredited farms outside the 7 kilometer radius of the control area. 

It also hinted that accredited farms in the areas not affected by the AI for the past 21 days can already ship out and transport their products. 

The DA BAI however has not furnished a list of these accredited farms outside the AI controlled area, a necessary document needed by quarantine officers flagging down products shipments transported to other areas to prevent the further spread of the disease outside the contained area. 

On this, Dr Lapiz who is also concerned about the reputation of balut dealers who could be affected if an untoward incident happens to balut consumers, urged consignees to defray from accepting baluts from no AI affected areas until 21 days have passed. 

DA Secretary Manuel Piñol in an unnumbered Administrative Order dated August 22 said the transport ban has been lifted but shipped products shall however be accompanied by a shipping permit issued by the nearest veterinary quarantine office. 

For balut, Dr. Abisado said duck eggs cooked for 30 minutes at boiling point may be transported but are shipped via air transport only. 

The shipment, especially for cooked embryonated duck eggs, shall also include a veterinary health certificate issued by a government veterinarian certifying that the birds came from accredited farms outside the 7 kilometer radius control area without bird flu incidence or the past 21 days prior to shipment. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

PVET Dr. Stella Marie Lapiz revealed that the bird flu may not have reached Bohol but supply of balut would be, as two consignees have refused to receive supplies pending the list of accredited bird-flu free farms to make sure their duck eggs are safe. (PIABohol)