EVENTS

 

 

New conference on Avian Flu

With the support of RUTA and other agencies Central America is better prepared, is exchanging information and has an early warning network to prevent the spread of the disease.

A fourth conference will be held in October to discuss risks of Avian Flu for the poultry sector and preventive measures against the disease, concluding a series of discussions and videoconferences organized by RUTA, the International Regional Organization for Plant and Animal Health (OIRSA) and the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) to exchange information and knowledge on this subject in Central America. These discussions have been a great success, bringing together numerous individuals, institutions and countries to analyze the situation and adopt preventive measures. FAO has provided technical support for these videoconferences.

Between March and June of this year, three videoconferences were organized with hundreds of professionals, authorities, journalists, representatives of the public and private sectors and technicians from six Central American countries, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and the United States.

The first event, on March 13, was entitled “Avian Flu: epidemiological surveillance and early detection of the disease for prevention in humans in Central America”. This three-hour videoconference linked seven countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and the Dominican Republic
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The fourth conference on avian flu is entitled “Avian Flu: risks for the poultry sector and preventive measures”. It will take place on October 17 with the participation of the Central American countries and the United States. Its target audience includes entrepreneurs, poultry producers and representatives of governments and international cooperation. The objective is to facilitate dialogue between the public sector and the business sector, provide training to prevent the spread of the disease, and inputs for governments to adopt preventive measures, bearing in mind the situation of the poultry sector.

More than 150 professionals participated, including animal health directors, veterinarians, epidemiologists, laboratory technicians from the Ministries of Agriculture and Livestock, doctors and veterinarians of the Public Health Ministry, representatives of the poultry producers’ association and the private sector.The purpose of the first conference was to promote closer links, better coordination and joint planning between government agencies responsible for human and animal health, producers, representatives of academic institutions, NGOs and the media.

A second videoconference took place on April 20 to review the types of measures and resources available to countries in the region to confront a possible avian flu pandemic. This videoconference was entitled “Avian Flu: Is Central America prepared? Evaluating preventive measures and resources in the countries of the isthmus”. On this occasion experts from the Agriculture Ministries of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Mexico presented the situation in their countries, along with the preventive measures and the resources available to them to tackle this problem. In addition, experts from FAO, PAHO, OIE, the World Bank and RUTA discussed the possible economic and health impacts in the event that avian flu should spread to this region, and issued directives and recommendations to prevent or control the disease.

Communication strategies to prevent avian flu

The third videoconference organized by RUTA, OIRSA and GDLN focused on the role of the media in preventing avian flu, and was entitled “Avian Flu: the role of the media”. The event was attended by dozens of journalists, the Animal Health Directors of the Central American countries, representatives of poultry producers’ associations and directors of media organizations. The main topics discussed were the effective use of the media in the face of the avian flu threat and the design of a communications strategy to prevent avian flu in the region.

In the Central American region, RUTA has accompanied the efforts of institutions such as FAO, UNICEF, PAHO and IICA in the implementation of an awareness campaign for governments on the use of communications as a preventive tool. RUTA participated actively in the creation of a "Communications Work Group for the prevention of Avian Flu Central America", established in July to help coordinate the efforts of different institutions engaged in producing information materials. RUTA has also supported the formulation of national and regional action plans that include information campaigns to educate the public about the problems, risks, and health and hygiene measures to reduce the risk of infection.