ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region IX has confirmed that the swallow population in Zamboanga City tested negative for Avian Influenza (bird flu), following laboratory results released on October 6, 2025.
The confirmation came after the annual Wildlife Disease Surveillance conducted on September 9–10, 2025, led by the DENR-IX Conservation and Development Division–Protected Area Management and Biodiversity Conservation Section (CDD–PAMBCS). The activity was carried out in partnership with the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Zamboanga City and the City Veterinary Office of Zamboanga, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture IX – Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (DA-IX RADDL).
Samples collected from swallows perched along major streets in the city were tested through Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) at the DA-IX RADDL facility, which confirmed the absence of Avian Influenza among the local swallow population.
DENR-IX said the surveillance is part of its routine monitoring and early warning efforts to detect potential wildlife diseases, particularly amid ongoing avian disease outbreaks reported in parts of Southeast Asia.
Swallows, being migratory birds often found near human settlements, play an important role as environmental indicators, providing insights into the health of local ecosystems and potential zoonotic threats.
The DENR-IX reaffirmed its commitment to strengthen inter-agency collaboration to safeguard wildlife, preserve biodiversity, and protect public health throughout the Zamboanga Peninsula.