Central America on Bird Flu Alert The News
go to original July 15, 2012

A man cuts chicken at a local market of Mexico City on July 7, 2012. According to Health Authorities, the consumption of egg or chicken products does not represent any risks for human health. The outbreak of the H7N3 bird flu virus, that infected chickens in Mexico, hasn't affected human beings, local authorities said. (Xinhua/Pedro Mera)

Panama reinforced biosecurity measures at its borders and on poultry farms and has restricted the importation of live animals from Mexico in response to the bird flu outbreak in Jalisco.

Ministry of Livestock Development of Panama director Manuel González said, “We are on the alert for whatever situation, and any live animal from Mexico is restricted from entering the country.”

Panamanian National Association of Poultry Farmers (Anavip) director María Lavison said, “It is always recommended that surveillance and biosecurity be implemented in these situations.”

Lavison said that Mexico reported the situation last week, and that Panama immediately “... activated a national animal health emergency system. We alerted ports, borders, airports, issuing a quarantine.”

Panamanian authorities have met with farmers and with representatives from the Regional International Organization for Plant Protection and Animal Health (OIRSA) with the objective of keeping them informed of the situation in Mexico.

González said that, “We have had no problems in Panama, and no reported cases.” He added that “it doesn’t matter the outbreak happens on a farm or in wild birds … the protocols that should be in place on farms should prevent this from happening.”

Guatemalan Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Nutrition officials stated that they have also declared a state of emergency, restricting Mexican poultry from entering the Central American country.

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