Agence Haitïenne de Presse - Translation by HaitiAnalysis.com

The Agriculture Secretary of State, Joanas Gué, declared on Thursday that the Haitian State is on the job to prevent any Avian Flu epidemic in Haiti, following the discovery of virus H5N2 in the neighboring Dominican Republic.

The banning measures on importation of poultry from this country of which the eggs and the poultry are maintained so far, for this flu stemming from Asia can only be transmitted from one country to another through commercial relations and migrant birds, underlined Mr. Gué.

He made it known that through his program of epidemiological supervision, Haiti already identified 15 points or locations of migrant birds. Daily samplings of excrements or other matters originating from these birds are carried out, for the purpose of analysis, contended Joanas Gué , assuring that, so far, all the analyses reveal that Haiti is unharmed in the matter of the Avian Flu virus ..

The Secretary of State, nevertheless, recognized that the banning measures taken by Haiti will have consequences on the economy of the 2 countries, given that, he specified, 20% of the Dominican production is exported towards Haiti.

He expressed the wish that this crisis prompts major investments in the country in favor of relaunching the national production.

The Haitian State can create, in this direction, about 15,000 permanent jobs and allow, within 18 months, a certain autonomy in terms of supplying on the market.

The Agriculture Secretary of State took this opportunity to announce a meeting this Friday, in Port-au-Prince, between Dominican and Haitian authorities, to evaluate the situation.

According to Joanas Gué, this meeting will also be an occasion to examine other problems linked to commerce between the 2 countries.