John Myers Jr., Staff Reporter
CLARKE
POULTRY PRODUCERS in the region, in partnership with the respective governments and their agencies, are moving swiftly to ensure that adequate measures are implemented to safeguard against an outbreak of the deadly Evian Flu (bird flu).
Both Jamaica Broilers and Caribbean Broilers, the island's two largest chicken producers, said they were satisfied with measures being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture to detect and prevent an outbreak of the virus that has been wreaking havoc on the poultry industry, as well as infecting humans in Asia.
"The region as a whole is aware of it and is taking steps to deal with it," Dr. Keith Amiel, corporate affairs manager of Caribbean Broilers said yesterday after returning from an agri-business conference in Guyana. He said the issue will also be discussed extensively at the upcoming Caribbean Poultry Producers annual general meeting in Nassau, Bahamas later this month.
He said the migration of birds from the United States and other areas into the region posed a threat to the region's ability to guard against the flu as the virus could be easily introduced into the region this way. Dr. Amiel pointed out that "we stand a chance of getting on top of it if we can confine our commercial poultry to poultry house operations that are wild bird-proof."
In the meantime, Christopher Levy, vice-president of operations at Jamaica Broilers said his company has set up a task force to work in tandem with the Ministry of Agriculture to monitor the virus. "It is really communicated by migratory birds and I think it is something that we have to be aware of and consider how we would handle it in the event (of an outbreak)," he said. "At this point I don't think it is a major threat, but it is something that definitely has to be on the radar," Mr. Levy added.
ADEQUATE MEASURES
Yesterday Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke assured that his Ministry has put in place adequate measures to prevent an outbreak. Addressing parliament on Tuesday, he said "A system has been put in place, there is surveillance for all the chicken houses in Jamaica (and) we have gone even further to deal with some of those who are just being back yard chicken rearers." The Minister noted that the veterinary service division was working closely with the United States Department of Agriculture to ensure that infected chicken is not imported into the country. He said a system has been established to detect symptoms if birds are infected and the possibility of establishing quarantine should there be an outbreak.
