SUVA (Pacnews) — Fiji is not ready to counter the avian flu if the disease arrives on our shores, says the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.
SPC adviser Doctor Ken Cokanasiga said while the community has discussed preparation measures with key government ministries, the delay in preparation rested with sub-sectors of government.
“We’ve spoken to the (government ministries) and have formed a National Preparatory Task Force chaired by the Health Ministry and the Agriculture Ministry,” he said.
Cokanasaiga said the threat of contamination is possible through foreign vessels that carried caged poultry or through the illegal import of poultry into Fiji.
“Asian boats that are known to have fighting roosters and bring in their own poultry are threat in terms of contamination. Migratory birds, some of which come to Fiji, have not been tested to determine whether they pose a similar threat or if they come from infected areas and carry the virus. Fiji is in the path of migrating birds. Yachts to Fiji that carry infected poultry are a concern,” he said.
SPC is one of the regional organizations tasked to help island countries prepare to counter the deadly flu.
Cokanasiga said the chronic shortage of veterinarians in the Pacific, including Fiji, is a serious matter that people needed to acknowledge.
Cokanasiga said the Fiji government has only three vets when it needs eight. He attributed the low numbers to the cost of training, which is “very expensive,” the five years it took to train vets and the number of local vets that have migrated.
Cokanasiga said people’s priority to animals is reflected in the number of scholarships given to study for a degree in the profession.