An Inter-institutional Commission, led by the Minister of Agricultural Development, Augusto Valderrama, and the poultry sector, met to evaluate the sanitary actions and strategies that have been taken to eliminate a focus of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). detected in backyard birds in communities with difficult access, located north of Veraguas, which can only be reached by air and sea.
The head of the agricultural portfolio stressed that they have been working in collaboration, and responsibly, with the different government entities such as the Ministry of Health, the National Aeronaval Service, Senafront and the Panamanian poultry sector, to technically and scientifically deal with this outbreak, which has already been located and controlled, for the benefit of Panama.
The head of MIDA highlighted the importance of taking quick actions to eliminate this focus, such as the creation of a sanitary fence to prevent the spread of this disease and the implementation of logistics to guarantee a meal with protein to the members of these communities. He added that an action plan is already being executed to continue protecting the Panamanian poultry sector and guarantee Panamanian food security.
The HPAI focus was detected in the communities of Concepción, Río Veraguas and Santa María de Belén, north of Veraguas, where approximately 1,500 backyard birds have been slaughtered with immediate action.
Luis Castroverde, president of the Association of Poultry Farmers of Panama, said that as an industry there is peace of mind that all initiatives are being taken responsibly to mitigate any risk that exists in relation to avian influenza, a disease that has been detected in different countries of America and recently in Central America.
At the meeting, the director of Animal Health of MIDA, Cecilia de Escobar, evaluated the situation and detailed the sanitary surveillance that has been carried out to eliminate this focus, such as checkpoints, sampling, visits to the region, seminars and trainings.
Lourdes Moreno, national head of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Health, also participated in the meeting, who pointed out that since the international alerts were issued they have been in communication with MIDA, providing the necessary support.
Producers and the general public are urged to immediately notify the nearest authorities or telephone 6550-8486, in case of observing sick or dead birds, maintaining basic biosecurity measures on poultry farms.
