The Philippines has recently recorded its first bird flu outbreak in Pampanga, raising alarms on the possibility of transmitting the virus from fowls to humans.

Although some strains of the avian influenza is transmittable to humans, Dr. Gundo Weiler of the World Health Organization explains that the chance is usually minimal.

"There are human cases that occur. First, we have to acknowledge that influenza virus among the bird population are circulating quite wildly as we have influenza viruses among humans but only a few of those viruses have the ability to jump onto humans," he said in an interview on ANC.

Weiler added that the spread of the virus from one country to country can usually happen due to migration of birds and that human infection usually occurs due to direct contact with infected birds.

The Department of Agriculture earlier confirmed that the bird flu strain found in Pampanga was an H5N6, a virus that is transmittable to humans but has a low rate of human-to-human transmission. No Filipino has tested positive for the virus.

"This is really not about trying to eradicate all influenza viruses among birds...but it's about being vigilant, understanding early on if there are signs for unusual influenza epidemic among birds and poultry and reacting very quickly," Weiler said.

-ANC Early Edition, August 29, 2017