Bureau of Animal Industry Director Dr. Jose Q. Molina today advised consumers to cook their chickens, ducks and even balut (duck's eggs) properly without fear of getting infected by bird flu.

Molina said that poultry and ducks raised within the 3 kilometer quarantine area imposed by the bureau and the provincial government of Bulacan "are safe to eat when properly cooked." Besides, the virus dies at high temperature.

BAI and the provincial government of Bulacan have imposed a 3- kilometer quarantine zone that covers 22 barangays in Calumpit and Plaridel in Bulacan and Apalit in Pampanga to protect the spread of the low risk bird flu virus that was detected fast week by BAI in a backyard duck farm.

Molina said that in the quarantine area there should be no movement of live fowl and chicken until such time that the bureau's tests on samples of tissues on existing populations prove negative of the fatal 115N1 virus.

The bureau last week announced its detection of the 115 virus, considered non virulent and non fatal, after a routine inspection of samples of balut (duck's eggs) to be shipped to another country. Of the samples submitted, eggs from 3 ducks proved positive of 115.

Molina said that BAI surveillance teams are now getting samples from live chickens and ducks and are testing them in its laboratories in the region.

Upon the request of BAI and the private sector, the provincial government of Bulacan issued yesterday Executive Order 8 series of 2005, creating the provincial avian influenza task force and establishing emergency control measures to prevent the spread of Al in the province.

The order, penned by Acting Gov. Aurelio Plamenco and confirmed by an emergency session of the provincial council, created the provincial A1 Task Force chaired by the governor. Its members arc the provincial veterinarian, provincial agriculturist, provincial health officer, provincial PNP director, PDCC Action Center and a representative each from the eggs, ducks and broiler sectors.