The Agricultural Department of the Philippines has announced limited outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza in duck and quail farms near the capital Manilla.  The Philippines has been free of avian influenza since January 2021 when an outbreak of H5N6 strain was eradicated. 

Surveillance is in progress following depletion of the small flocks that were affected.  To date there have been no reported cases in either broiler or egg-producing flocks.  Given the extensive live bird marketing system in the Philippines, it is inevitable that the infection will appear in commercial operations.  This implies that the Philippines will be obliged to import more broiler meat than at present.  The Nation has yet to control African swine fever that was responsible for a rise in importation of both pork and broiler meat in 2021.

In 2021 the Philippines imported 154,298 metric tons of broiler products valued at $146.3 million placing the nation fifth in ranking of importers with a unit value of  $948 per ton. Compared with 2020, volume and value in 2021were higher by 98.1 and 134.5 percent respectively

It is enigmatic that the Philippines has imposed a blanket import ban on all U.S.States as a result of linited outbreaks of H5N1 HPAI in turkeys in two counties in Indiana and one county in each of Delaware and Kentucky. This action that hopefully will be modified to conform to the World Organization of Animal Health principle of regionalization will deprive consumers in the Philippines of required inexpensive protein if retained.