THE Ministry of Agriculture & Lands, through its National Emergency Animal Disease Committee, has implemented programmes to determine the island's preparedness to handle outbreaks of animal diseases, including the highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI), more commonly called bird flu.

In a simulation in Old Harbour, St Catherine yesterday, senior veterinary and animal health officers from the region, as well as members of the Jamaican constabulary and defence forces, farmers and other agricultural interests, went out into "affected" areas to evaluate methods of dealing with outbreaks and to establish good practices where they were lacking.

Regional representative of the Food and Agriculture Organisation's Latin American & Caribbean office, Dr Cedric Lazarus (left) helps senior veterinary officer in the Ministry of Agriculture & Lands Dr Osbil Watson add air filters to his biosecurity gear in a demonstration of the proper handling of protective equipment when dealing with incidents of avian influenza (bird flu). (Photo: Bryan Cummings)

Director of the ministry's Veterinary Services Division and coordinator of the task force, Dr Headley Edwards, said the simulation did not present a reason to panic as the Caribbean region is considered free of disease, but he said that a plan of action must be in place in the event that it does reach the shores of the Caribbean.

"This exercise today is helping us to determine how prepared we are to deal with an outbreak of avian influenza. We must recognise that the disease is not here but if it gets here, we need to know what to do," he said.

The veterinary scientist told the Observer that surveillance plans have been put in place throughout the region to detect the H5N1 virus should it turn up and that, in accordance with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Health Organisation (WHO), the region was "looking at the possibility of developing a reliable vaccine" to stem the spread of the virus, rather than engage in the mass killing of birds once an infection is uncovered among the avian carriers.

In the meantime, executive director of the Caribbean Poultry Association, Robert Best, cautioned about getting overly anxious about a flu outbreak in animals, saying the real cause for concern was a pandemic among humans.

"The key thing is knowing that what we're working with is avian influenza which is not the same as a pandemic influenza. You don't need to get worried about it, just do what needs to be done," said Best.

thompsonk@jamaicaobserver.com

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