MANILA, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the country's first vaccine against avian influenza for commercial use, the country's Department of Agriculture (DA) said Wednesday.
In a press release, the FDA hailed the approval, saying it will boost the poultry sector and the government's food security goal.
Avian influenza, also known as bird flu, is a disease that has significantly harmed the poultry industry and poses risks to public health, said the DA.
"With the FDA's approval of Volvac B.E.S.T. AI plus ND, the poultry sector now has a strong line of defense against a virus that threatens both food security and human health," Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said at a news conference on Tuesday. ■
