Antigua joins region in preparing for Bird Flu

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Antigua joins region in preparing for Bird Flu
http://www.antiguasun.com/paper/?as=view&sun=260533028604132006&an=103209107904132006&ac=Local
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Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr. James Knight will represent Antigua & Barbuda at a Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) regional meeting on the Avian Influenza in Bogot?, Columbia from 18 ? 22 April.


The meeting is a follow-up to a survey on health services network preparedness and response to the influenza pandemic, which was conducted by the Caribbean Programme Coordination (CPC) office at PAHO.
It is also in keeping with the PAHO strategic and operational plan to respond to the influenza pandemic.


The meeting will be attended by resource persons responsible for the organization of response to the pandemic in their countries; persons with responsibility for the health services and specialists in clinical care and control of infections

It is expected that from this meeting Antigua & Barbuda will have a clearer understanding of the measures that are to be taken in preparation for a possible outbreak of the Avian Flu epidemic and the technical support that may be required from regional and international agencies and countries.


PAHO is currently working with its member countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to develop national pandemic preparedness plans and has set July for all its member countries to have a finalised plan.


A report from PAHO said the Avian Influenza commonly called ?Bird Flu? is an animal disease that has caused relatively few human cases, with 175 laboratory confirmed cases worldwide and 96 deaths recorded as of 8 March. The report revealed that nearly all human illnesses have been traced to close contact with infected poultry, particularly slaughtering, butchering and de-feathering at home.


PAHO is coordinating its efforts on avian influenza with IICA, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the World Health Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Regional International Organisation for Plant Protection and Animal Health (ORISA).