Suriname has recorded its first official case of highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza, marking the arrival of the regional virus outbreak that has already impacted neighboring nations across South America. The infection was first detected at a commercial broiler chicken farm located in the capital city of Paramaribo, where between 5,000 and 6,000 birds have died from the virus. In immediate response, the country’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (LVV) activated its emergency protocol and rolled out a series of strict control measures to halt further spread of the pathogen throughout the national poultry sector.
Addressing public and industry concerns, Agriculture Minister Mike Noersalim emphasized that the country’s national supply of chicken meat remains secure and is not under threat from the outbreak. As of the latest update, the infection has been contained to the single Paramaribo commercial farm. A small number of poultry shipments that had already been transported to the Wanica and Commewijne districts before the outbreak was detected have since been located and culled by authorities to prevent further spread. A suspected case at a small-scale duck farm in Saramacca is currently undergoing further testing to confirm whether it is linked to the Paramaribo outbreak.
Preliminary laboratory analysis conducted jointly by the Bureau of Public Health (BOG) and the Ministry of Public Health has found no evidence of human infection. All test results from samples collected from personnel who were exposed to infected birds have returned negative.
Edmund Rozenblad, a veterinary surgeon and senior advisor to the agriculture minister, has moved to reassure consumers about the safety of commercially available poultry. “The current challenge is limited to poultry producers, not end consumers,” Rozenblad explained. “All chicken meat available in retail outlets is safe for human consumption as long as it is cooked thoroughly.” He did, however, issue a clear warning against a common unsafe practice among some consumers: tasting raw, marinated chicken during food preparation to check seasoning.
A coordinated national response effort is now underway, led by the LVV alongside the National Coordination Center for Disaster Management (NCCR) and international health and agriculture partners. Over the critical 24 to 72-hour window following the confirmation of the outbreak, response teams have outlined three core priorities. First, they are ramping up surveillance and contact tracing, with intensive monitoring of all high-risk poultry farms and field workers who may have been exposed to the virus. Second, authorities are scaling up biosecurity and disinfection protocols, tightening hygiene standards across all commercial poultry operations nationwide. Third, response teams are working to secure additional supplies of diagnostic testing materials and personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline workers.
Suriname is one of the final countries in the South American region to confirm an H5 avian influenza outbreak, after neighboring nations including Brazil previously reported widespread outbreaks among poultry and wild bird populations. Minister Noersalim noted that the country had already implemented a series of preventive measures ahead of the first confirmed case, including a ban on imports of poultry products from the European Union, the establishment of a dedicated veterinary border checkpoint at Stolkerstijver, and biosecurity training for more than 3,000 workers across the poultry sector.
Looking ahead, the LVV will hold a meeting with representatives from the entire national poultry sector on Monday to discuss market stabilization alternatives and evaluate support for producers affected by the outbreak, including plans for financial compensation for losses incurred during culling and containment operations.