The scientists call it h5n1 - but to most of us, it's known as bird flu. Since 2003, it's spread from Korea to the UK and the African Continent. And now, all across the Americas, health authorities are gathering to consider, what if?" That's what representatives from a broad cross section of government agencies will contemplate for the next 5 days as they come up with a bird flu plan. We attended the opening ceremonies where the health authorities conceded that it is a very real threat.
Dr. Paul Edwards - Acting Deputy Director of Health Services,
"When we talk about the risk of Avian Influenza in Belize, the threat is real."
The threat is real - and that's why health, emergency, agriculture and law enforcement professionals gathered in a conference room at the princess hotel to figure out what to do if Avian Influenza were to appear in Belize. Edwards says the plan they develop will be national and local.
Dr. Paul Edwards,
"We talk about a national operational plan and then we talk about a local plan whereby that information would be disseminated at the local level. I am talking about the district hospitals and all the way to the community nurse's aids who have critical roles in response. I am convinced that we are extremely serious and I want to make it clear here: we will not be able to prevent the virus from transmitting human to human, not even if it comes here. What we will do though is to be able to contain and as best as possible reduce the transmission from other individuals."
And in Belize where chicken is so widely consumed as an available and affordable source of protein, safeguarding chicken stocks is crucial.
"Avian Influenza can have a serious social and economic impact on Belize and is a threat to food security and human health."
BAHA tested three thousand chickens for Avian Influenza between 2005 and 2006 and all were negative.
Victor Gongora,
"The chick is safe. We are out there as BAHA looking at the farms, we are out there looking at anything that might go wrong, testing it for Avian Influenza - so in a sense we are protecting."
And while it's safe now, it might not be so forever, and the minute it isn't the plan they come up with over the next five days will be activated - and it could mean the difference between life and death for you.
Dr. Jorge Polanco,
"At the end of this week we will have a plan that would set the way forward for each one of us to know what to do, how to do it, how best to do it utilizing the existing resources."
The last influenza pandemic - known as the Hong Kong flu emerged in 1968 and it killed 750 thousand people. So far Avian Influenza has killed 167 people.
