CUBA PREPS FOR BIRD FLU

Havana, June 24, 2006 (Prensa Latina, Latin Anerican News Agency) Cuba is stepping up surveillance on avian diseases through the application of preventive measures, while maintaining strict control to avoid the entrance of the fearful bird flu in the country.

The island's poultry is being vaccinated against diseases like Marek, New Castle, Gumboro and Avian smallpox, one of the most worrying ailments on an international scale, Granma newspaper reports Saturday.

The daily states that to avoid the entrance of avian flu it is strengthening all measures of bio-security on farms through a permanent research in risk zones.

Workers in direct contact with birds are also being vaccinated against common influenza, to help develop an immunologic system faced with any eventuality.