Cuban eastern province takes extreme measures against avian influenza

 GUANTANAMO, Cuba, Feb 10 (ACN) The Department of Animal Health, ascribed to the provincial Delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture in Guantanamo, has adopted extreme surveillance measures to avoid the penetration and propagation of avian influenza in the eastern territory, after confirming an outbreak of that infectious disease in wild birds in the Havana Zoological Garden.

Zoe Debrook Chibas, MSc and head of the aforementioned section, told the Cuban News Agency that the strain found in the country's capital is of low pathogenicity and recommended that state and private breeders immediately inform the official veterinary service of any case of mortality in breeding or wild birds.

The provisions also include studying and updating the contingency plans foreseen to face the disease, activating the Animal Health system in the different enterprises in Guantanamo and in the instances of Communal Services, the Forest Ranger Corps, the Colombophile Federation and the Border Brigade.

It also indicated to mobilize the Temporary Working Groups for serious diseases in the 10 municipalities and the province, which must use the Study of Danger, Vulnerability and Risks (PVR by its Spanish acronym) of Epizootics as a permanent working tool.
The PVR study provides decision-makers and the population in general with a tool to reduce vulnerabilities, the danger of disasters and raise the level of resilience of each People's Council.

In this sense, Debrook Chibas recommended acting according to the characteristics of each locality, with emphasis on coastal areas, migratory bird settlements and the border perimeter with the illegal US naval base, located in the southern portion of Guantanamo Bay.
Finally, the expert proposed defining areas for the mass burial of affected animals, slaughter methods and wastewater treatment.