THE BIRD FLU strain in San Luis, Pampanga has been identified as H5N6 which can infect humans, an Agriculture department official said yesterday, even as she described transmission risk as “very, very” low.

“Based on the results of the Australian Animal (Health) Laboratory, na-test na nila ang N subtype at tested positive for N6. N6 ay isang strain which could be transmitted to humans,” Arlene Asteria V. Vytiaco, who heads the Animal Disease Control Section of the Bureau of Animal Industry’s (BAI) Animal Health and Welfare Division, said in a press briefing at the agency’s headquarters, referring to the samples gathered from the affected farms in Pampanga.

Following reports it received earlier this month on the outbreak in Pampanga which had been noticed locally as early as April, the department submitted samples to the Australian lab to seek help in validating if the strain could infect humans since local laboratories lacked capability for the test.

“Worldwide, 20 pa lang namamatay (only have died) due to H5N6… Napakababa ang chance na may mamamatay (of death is very low),” Ms. Vytiaco assured, adding that the risk of human transmission is “very, very low.”

World Health Organization data show that, as of January, the H7N9 strain in comparison was responsible for 918 laboratory-confirmed human infections and 359 fatalities.

Detection of the H5N6 strain goes as far back as 1975 in various areas of the world, including Wisconsin, USA, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Ms. Vytiaco assured that health workers and household members in affected farms tested negative for the disease.

She also noted that Japan and Myanmar which reported outbreaks of the same strain since Japan and February, respectively, have not reported any case of human infection.

As the BAI continues to trace the source of the virus that infected the farms in San Luis, Pampanga, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said separately that the department will draft new protocols, based on lessons from the outbreak. Saying there was “no way to prepare for bird flu” completely, Mr. Piñol said “[i]t’s like a knockout punch in boxing — you won’t see it coming.”

“Sa ibang bansa kasi, ever since nagkaroon ng outbreak, hanggang ngayon meron pa rin (Ever since their own outbreaks, other countries are still reporting new cases),” Ms. Vytiaco said.

“Sa atin, may possibility ulit na magkaroon ng intrusion kung di natin babaguhin mga mali nating ginawa (There is a possibility of new outbreaks if we do not rectify mistakes in our response).” — Janina C. Lim

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