On Thursday, Suriname’s Minister of Public Health, Welfare and Labour André Misiekaba delivered a formal update on the country’s ongoing avian influenza situation during a parliamentary session in De Nationale Assemblée (DNA), the nation’s legislative body. As of October 19, all human test samples collected from individuals with potential exposure to infected poultry have returned negative results for the Influenza A H5 strain, no confirmed cases of bird flu in the general population have been recorded to date.
The first indication of unusual poultry mortality emerged on September 15, when the veterinary department under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries (LVV) received an official report of abnormally high death rates at a local commercial poultry farm. Subsequent testing by the Central Laboratory of the Public Health Bureau (BOG) on September 18 confirmed the presence of Influenza A H5 in poultry specimens from the affected site. Minister Misiekaba clarified that health authorities have not yet verified whether the detected H5 strain is the highly pathogenic H5N1 subtype, and full genomic sequencing to trace the virus’s origin and determine its pathogenicity level is currently underway at specialized reference laboratories in the United States and Brazil, with final results set to be released immediately upon completion.
Following the initial outbreak alert, public health and agricultural teams launched coordinated response operations: all confirmed infected sites, plus secondary locations that had received poultry transferred from the index farm, were subjected to full depopulation and thorough disinfection protocols. Surveillance zones were first established in a 3-kilometer radius around the original affected farm, before being expanded to a 7-kilometer perimeter to monitor for potential unobserved transmission. To date, no evidence of further virus spread beyond the initial infected commercial operation has been documented, a development Misiekaba described as a positive sign, though he emphasized that the public health risk has not been fully eliminated.
The BOG has been conducting active medical monitoring for all farm staff, field veterinarians and other personnel who had close contact with infected poultry, carcasses or contaminated materials, with regular testing for symptoms including fever, cough, breathing difficulties and eye inflammation. All exposed personnel have been provided with full personal protective equipment and received formal training on proper safety protocols. Misiekaba stressed that thoroughly cooked poultry meat and fully prepared eggs remain completely safe for human consumption, though he advised household consumers to maintain strict kitchen hygiene practices and verify the certified source of all poultry products they purchase. Local poultry farmers have been formally urged to immediately report any unusual illness or unexpected mortality in their flocks, and to refrain from moving or selling any visibly sick birds. The minister reassured the public that there is no cause for widespread panic at this stage, but consistent, targeted vigilance from all stakeholders remains critical to containing the outbreak.
Geen vogelgriep vastgesteld bij onderzochte personen; H5N1 nog niet bevestigd
