h1n1 - Haiti Observer Blog

The Ministries of Agriculture, Commerce and Industry recently announced a ban on all poultry related items from Haiti's neighboring country the Dominican Republic after government officials in Santo Domingo confirmed the reports of an outbreak of Bird Flu in the country.

The threat of the deadly avian flu has caused a ban on all animal, meat and egg products from the Dominican Republic. The government, in an official statement, has also informed importers, resellers and consumers of the products which are potential carriers of the flu that the ban was of immediate effect and would remain in effect until further notice.

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On Monday, June 17, 2013, Haiti reported its first suspected death caused by the H1N1 virus or the A flu. It is reported that the person who fell victim of the N1H1 was a resident of Nan Bannann's community that lives in Belle-Anse's southern city that is located at a distance of 110 kilometers southwest from Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti. It was confirmed by a government official that the victim died in Thiotte's Sacred Heart Hospital that is located 65 kilometers to the east of Port-au-Prince.

According to reports, the person who is suspected to have died because of the N1H1 actually contracted this virus in the city of Anse-a-Pitres which shares a border with Dominican Republic, the country where 8 people have been confirmed dead because of the N1H1 virus.

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According to Haiti Press Network, Dominican President Danilo Medina said this week that he would take "drastic measures" to resolve the issue of the ban on Dominican chickens and eggs by the Haitian government. He added that there are no valid reason for the ban noting that the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has supported their claim that there was no bird flu in the Dominican Republic.

Danilo Medina denounced the special interests behind the actions taken by Haiti and concluded that they need to find solutions to not depend on the Haitian market."

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Following the warning from the Ministry of Public Health and Population in the Dominican Republic regarding the reappearance of avian flu (H1N1 virus) in their country, the Ministry of Trade and Industry in Haiti took its own precaution to protect the Haitian population.

Effective immediately, the Haitians government has instituted a ban. Importers and retailers of meat products, particularly poultry, eggs and live animals potentially infected or carriers of the Avian Flu from the Dominican Republic are prohibited from carrying these products until further order.

Can Haiti afford to be affected by Avian Flu? As we are currently dealing with the Cholera epidemic inherited from the Nepalese contingent of UN peacekeeping MINUSTAH, Haiti is faced with a new health threat.

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