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Fiji can't combat bird flu: Expert
FIJI is not ready to counter the avian flu if the disease arrives on our shores, says the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.
SPC adviser Doctor Ken Cokanasiga said while the community had discussed preparation measures with key government ministries, the delay in preparation rested with sub-sectors of government.
"We've spoken to them (government ministries) and have formed a National Preparatory Task Force chaired by the Health Ministry and the Agriculture Ministry," he said.
Dr Cokanasaiga said the threat of contamination was possible through foreign vessels that carried caged poultry or through the illegal import of poultry into Fiji. "Asian boats that are known to have fighting roosters and bring in their own poultry are threat in terms of contamination.
"Migratory birds, some of which come to Fiji, have not been tested to determine whether they pose a similar threat or if they come from infected areas and carry the virus.
"Fiji is in the path of migrating birds. Yachts to Fiji that carry infected poultry are a concern," he said.
SPC is one of the regional organisations tasked to help island countries prepare to counter the deadly flu.
In another development, Dr Cokanasaiga said the chronic shortage of veterinarians in the Pacific, including Fiji, was a serious matter that people needed to sit up and acknowledge.
He said the Fiji Government had only three vets when it needed eight.
He attributed the low numbers to the cost of training, which was "very expensive", the five years it took to train vets and that a number of local vets had migrated.
Dr Cokanasiga said people's priority to animals was reflected in the number of scholarships given to study for a degree in the profession.
He said the shortage of vets in the Pacific often resulted in SPC providing back-up as some island countries simply had no vets at all.
FIJI is not ready to counter the avian flu if the disease arrives on our shores, says the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.
SPC adviser Doctor Ken Cokanasiga said while the community had discussed preparation measures with key government ministries, the delay in preparation rested with sub-sectors of government.
"We've spoken to them (government ministries) and have formed a National Preparatory Task Force chaired by the Health Ministry and the Agriculture Ministry," he said.
Dr Cokanasaiga said the threat of contamination was possible through foreign vessels that carried caged poultry or through the illegal import of poultry into Fiji. "Asian boats that are known to have fighting roosters and bring in their own poultry are threat in terms of contamination.
"Migratory birds, some of which come to Fiji, have not been tested to determine whether they pose a similar threat or if they come from infected areas and carry the virus.
"Fiji is in the path of migrating birds. Yachts to Fiji that carry infected poultry are a concern," he said.
SPC is one of the regional organisations tasked to help island countries prepare to counter the deadly flu.
In another development, Dr Cokanasaiga said the chronic shortage of veterinarians in the Pacific, including Fiji, was a serious matter that people needed to sit up and acknowledge.
He said the Fiji Government had only three vets when it needed eight.
He attributed the low numbers to the cost of training, which was "very expensive", the five years it took to train vets and that a number of local vets had migrated.
Dr Cokanasiga said people's priority to animals was reflected in the number of scholarships given to study for a degree in the profession.
He said the shortage of vets in the Pacific often resulted in SPC providing back-up as some island countries simply had no vets at all.