The deadly strain of the virus has affected birds and people in at least 40 countries in Asia, Europe and Africa and Minister of Health Dr Douglas Slater said his ministry is in close contact with the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC).

“We are hoping that it doesn’t reach here but just in case it does we will be following internationally accepted standards in reporting the disease and management of the disease,” Slater said.

The preparation includes revitalising the plan implemented for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Dr Slater said.

“But I think we ought to get clear here that bird flu is primarily a disease that affects birds,” Slater said, adding that the most important consideration if bird flu arrived in St Vincent and the Grenadines would be “the economic impact on the poultry industry.”

“However, there is a strain that has transferred to humans but statistically the transfer rate is so low that realistically there is not a great fear of it crossing over to man in these parts. We are hoping that we will be able to prevent any disease transfer from animal to man,” the health minister said.

Dr Slater’s comments came even as PAHO and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) brought together members of the public and private sector to address potential pandemic concerns for the region in Washington last week.

During that discussion, Assistant Secretary General of the OAS, Albert Ramdin emphasized the need for communication and strengthening of national, regional and hemispheric capacity.

Ramdin said the OAS was taking a proactive approach “in preparing for and confronting potential and real threats to the lives and livelihoods of the people of the Americas.”

“Were it to reach our shores, avian influenza has the potential to significantly impact not only animal and human health but also trade, tourism and the economic stability of many of our countries,” he cautioned.

IICA’s Director General, Chelston Brathwaite explained the urgency of hemispheric collaboration and said coordinated international efforts are needed to control the disease.

Also calling for strong hemispheric cooperation was PAHO’s Assistant Director, Dr. Carissa Etienne, stressed the need to “stop the disease in its tracks.”