PARAMARIBO — The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is providing technical assistance to contain avian influenza, better known as bird flu, at the request of the Livestock Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (LVV). The disease was first diagnosed in Suriname in mid-September. As a result of the outbreak at a poultry farm in Paramaribo, more than five thousand chickens died.
According to Gianna Karg, acting deputy director of Veterinary Services, the outbreak is currently under control. LVV continues to work towards ultimately declaring Suriname free of avian influenza. However, the ministry emphasizes that the fight against bird flu is a joint responsibility.
“They emphasized the importance of continuous surveillance, improved biosecurity on poultry farms and timely reporting of disease symptoms and mortality among poultry”
Society is therefore called upon to immediately report symptoms of illness and unusual mortality among poultry to the competent authorities. Every timely notification contributes to preventing further spread and protecting the poultry sector and public health, LVV underlines.
Technical support
From October 26 to 30, FAO experts Vanessa Max Kraus (veterinary epidemiologist and animal health specialist from the FAO Regional Office in Chile) and Ana Maria Nicola (veterinary laboratory specialist from the Regional Office in Argentina) supported the LVV team in epidemiological research, field activities and laboratory work, in the context of the One Health-approximation. Collaboration with the Ministry of Health was also strengthened.
The experts provided practical training to LVV employees on investigating outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). In addition, Nicola tested the Elisa laboratory equipment in the Veterinary Laboratory. The laboratory of the Office for Public Health Care (BOG) was also visited. Discussions also took place with various partners, including BOG, the Pan-American Health Organization and the CAHFSA.
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Work not over
LVV reports that Kraus and Nicola expressed their appreciation for the efforts of the LVV team, which has already independently carried out many of the necessary activities to contain the disease. However, they emphasized the importance of continuous surveillance, improved biosecurity on poultry farms and timely reporting of disease symptoms and mortality among poultry.
The duo made recommendations for the further processing and presentation of the collected field data. They will record their findings and recommendations in a report. To support the work, Kraus and Nicola handed over symbolic awareness materials and personal protective equipment to Gerald Tjon A San, Acting Director of Livestock, for the benefit of field and laboratory staff.
Between 2020 and 2026, more than sixteen countries in the region experienced outbreaks of avian influenza. After the Cayman Islands, Suriname is the second country in the Caribbean where the disease has been diagnosed, LVV reports. The FAO supports countries in the region with, among other things, technical meetings, simulation exercises and the exchange of knowledge and experiences.
