Port checks stepped up after Suriname bird flu outbreak

Barbados has strengthened surveillance at its ports of entry following an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Suriname, but Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Mark Trotman said on Friday there was no immediate threat to the poultry industry.

In September, agricultural officials in Paramaribo confirmed the presence of the H5 strain of avian influenza. The outbreak decimated a commercial operation in the Wanica and Paramaribo area, killing approximately 5 000 broiler chickens.

The outbreak put neighbouring Guyana on high alert.

To contain the disease’s rapid spread, Surinamese veterinary authorities were forced to cull the remaining 1 000 birds on the property. The Pan American Health Organisation is currently conducting advanced laboratory testing to determine the specific genetic strain and how the virus sickens birds.

Despite the severity of the outbreak in the fellow CARICOM member state, Dr Trotman sought to assure the public that Barbados remains secure, saying there was no immediate threat to poultry, largely due to stringent import regulations long in place.

He told Barbados TODAY: “As far as the measures that we are taking to mitigate against the entry of HPAI from anywhere, really and truly, we haven’t put anything specific in place right now for Suriname, other than our normal quarantine protocols.

“We make sure that we have a permitting system so that poultry and all meats only come from approved countries.”

Crucially for consumers and poultry farmers, Barbados does not currently engage in commercial poultry trade with Suriname on any meaningful scale. According to Dr Trotman, a robust permitting system already serves as a formidable barrier against bringing in commercial poultry from unapproved or high-risk territories.

But the vulnerability lies in unregulated and informal avenues, not in commercial trade, the chief vet acknowledged. To counter this risk, customs and agricultural officials have been instructed to remain on high alert, he said.

“We would exercise a little more diligence at the ports of entry for illegal importations,” Dr Trotman said. “There is obviously the possibility of people sneaking it in or bringing it in their baggage and so on. For that, we have strengthened our port surveillance.”

The veterinary services department is not implementing bans or emergency restrictions at this juncture, but Dr Trotman made clear that the situation remains fluid.

Authorities are closely monitoring the trajectory of the Suriname outbreak. If the virus spreads rapidly or exacerbates the current agricultural landscape in the wider region, the government is prepared to introduce more stringent, targeted measures to prevent the disease from establishing a foothold here, he said.

Regarding the island’s capacity to swiftly detect and diagnose potential cases, Dr Trotman said a new state-of-the-art testing laboratory is slated for completion later this year. In the interim, the department maintains a functional, albeit limited, in-house capacity to conduct preliminary serology testing.

“If we do have an outbreak, that capacity is still very much there, but for confirmation, we can send the samples to reference labs overseas.

“We do have a rapid response mechanism which will kick in if we do have an outbreak locally. We would go and investigate, take samples, and then send it to a reference laboratory.”

Veterinary authorities’ greatest concern is the virus’s potential transmission to farms, which could devastate domestic agriculture and severely impact national food security. The real risk, Dr Trotman said, is not human infection from imported meat, but the devastating impact the virus could have if introduced to poultry.

Dr Trotman issued a stern reminder to poultry rearers to prioritise defensive agricultural practices and stay alert.

“Basically, maintain vigilance, maintain your biosecurity measures at your farms,” he said. He referenced ongoing educational campaigns, noting that the ministry has repeatedly engaged farmers on preventative strategies.

These practices include installing chemical footbaths, maintaining strict operational cleanliness, changing clothing before entering coops, and staying especially observant for signs of disease.

“Look out for signs of illness and notify the veterinary authority or a veterinarian if you do see any signs of sudden illness in animals.”

The Suriname outbreak was a top talking point at a recent meeting of CARICOM Chief Veterinary Officers, which Dr Trotman attended. While the situation in Suriname was reviewed and veterinary assistance was offered to Surinamese counterparts, Dr Trotman said that the isolated outbreak did not raise widespread regional alarms during the summit.

(RR)