2 people cleared of suspected bird flu infection

The two farm workers suspected to have been hit by the avian flu outbreak tested negative for the virus, officials said this morning.

The Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday that they isolated two people in the central Luzon province of Pampanga who were exposed to the virus and experiencing flu-like symptoms.

According to a report in CNN Philippines, the two individuals were ages 18 years old and 28 years old.

Plans to slaughter 200,000 chickens in the area have been delayed because workers fear getting infected.

READ: 6 more days needed for gov’t to slaughter chickens in avian flu-hit town

Avian influenza can be spread through the air, manure, and other types of contact but the DOH said that the virus in San Luis, Pampanga, where the two farm workers are from is not airborne and cannot be transmitted from human to human.