Guyana steps up bird flu surveillance amid outbreak in Suriname

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — The Guyana Government has intensified surveillance and implemented precautionary measures to prevent an outbreak of H5N1 Avian Influenza, commonly known as bird flu, following reports of the disease in neighbouring Suriname.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said he received official notification of the outbreak earlier this week from the World Organisation for Animal Health, but had already begun putting measures in place after hearing reports of the disease.

“When I heard about the rumours I started to put things in place; as a matter of fact, I activated a multi-stakeholder committee that is meeting very regularly, sometimes twice per week, sometimes,” Mustapha said.