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Guyana tests readiness for bird flu
http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/news-2839--13-13--.html
Published on Thursday, August 2, 2007
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): The government of Guyana will be hosting an emergency animal disease simulation exercise on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) know as Bird Flu on August 7-9 2007.
Guyana's Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud
The exercise seeks to test Guyana?s preparedness to respond should there be an outbreak of the disease.
Ministers of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, and Agriculture, Robert Persaud, made the announcement on Wednesday.
?I want to make it clear that there is not an outbreak or any signs of it in the country. We just want to test how we will respond, supposing there is one,? Ramsammy said.
The simulation exercise is being executed by the Ministries of Health and Agriculture with assistance from by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and several other bodies including the private sector.
Guyana is the second country in the region to be conducting the exercise. The first was held in Jamaica while the third will be held in St. Lucia. International observers from the United States of America Civil Defence Commission, the Dominican Republic, Belize and Suriname will be monitoring the situation very closely.
Persaud said the exercise is meant to evaluate the national capability of the Government to manage an outbreak or any other exotic disease in the country. It will enable the veterinary services division and its partners to identify and improve its emergency preparedness plan.
?In an effort to support the activities of the Avian Influenza Committee, the Ministry has a fully staffed and functional poultry laboratory which is jointly managed by the Guyana Poultry Producers Association to conduct routine tests and monitor the disease status of the local poultry industry,? Persaud said.
While reiterating that there is no outbreak of the disease, the exercise is to ensure the security and sustainability of the poultry industry.
The executing committee calls for the cooperation and support of all relevant bodies during the exercise.
Meanwhile persons in the Laluni area have been informed and the area has been chosen since it has a relatively small population and will allow the execution to be undertaken in a smooth manner.
The Ministries of Health and Agriculture will however, continue to collaborate to host this and similar exercises with the Guyana Poultry Producers Associations, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), the United States Agency for International Development, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the United Nations and Inter- American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA).
http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/news-2839--13-13--.html
Published on Thursday, August 2, 2007
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): The government of Guyana will be hosting an emergency animal disease simulation exercise on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) know as Bird Flu on August 7-9 2007.
Guyana's Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud
The exercise seeks to test Guyana?s preparedness to respond should there be an outbreak of the disease.
Ministers of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, and Agriculture, Robert Persaud, made the announcement on Wednesday.
?I want to make it clear that there is not an outbreak or any signs of it in the country. We just want to test how we will respond, supposing there is one,? Ramsammy said.
The simulation exercise is being executed by the Ministries of Health and Agriculture with assistance from by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and several other bodies including the private sector.
Guyana is the second country in the region to be conducting the exercise. The first was held in Jamaica while the third will be held in St. Lucia. International observers from the United States of America Civil Defence Commission, the Dominican Republic, Belize and Suriname will be monitoring the situation very closely.
Persaud said the exercise is meant to evaluate the national capability of the Government to manage an outbreak or any other exotic disease in the country. It will enable the veterinary services division and its partners to identify and improve its emergency preparedness plan.
?In an effort to support the activities of the Avian Influenza Committee, the Ministry has a fully staffed and functional poultry laboratory which is jointly managed by the Guyana Poultry Producers Association to conduct routine tests and monitor the disease status of the local poultry industry,? Persaud said.
While reiterating that there is no outbreak of the disease, the exercise is to ensure the security and sustainability of the poultry industry.
The executing committee calls for the cooperation and support of all relevant bodies during the exercise.
Meanwhile persons in the Laluni area have been informed and the area has been chosen since it has a relatively small population and will allow the execution to be undertaken in a smooth manner.
The Ministries of Health and Agriculture will however, continue to collaborate to host this and similar exercises with the Guyana Poultry Producers Associations, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), the United States Agency for International Development, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the United Nations and Inter- American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA).
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=5>
</TD></TR><TR><TD class=caption>Part of the bird flu simulation exercise. (GINA photo) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy said based on a simulated exercise to an outbreak of bird flu, conducted at Laluni, Soesdyke/Linden Highway on Wednesday, the country is prepared should there be such an occurrence. 
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