Panama Strategizes for Avian Flu
General Secretary of the Central American Integration System (SICA) Anibal Quinonez stated Tuesday that the region must firm up tactics against avian flu as this phenomenon has become a threat to economic and social resources.

At the opening of the inter-sector meeting of Central American Health, Agriculture and Environment Ministers, Quinonez said that although the disease is only a threat so far, underestimating its negative consequences would be irresponsible.

Representatives of international organisms and 21 Central American ministers are analyzing possible mechanisms to face avian flu.

Panamanian Health Minister Camilo Alleyne recalled that the disease has seriously affected thousands of people in Asia and that more than 200 million birds have been sacrificed in the Far East, Africa and Europe.

“This reality calls for us to set strategies to prevent segments of the population, particularly the poorest ones, from suffering avian flu in a devastating magnitude,” he asserted.

Ministers of the involved fields from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Belize and Panama will exchange views on the measures implemented by each nation so far and focus on strengthening health and sanitation programs.

The private sector, represented by Central America’s Poultry Farmers Federation, will also take part in the debate, while the international organisms are expected to offer financial support and cooperation for the prevention plans to be designed.