Lilian Reneau-Vernon, local representative of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), gave an assurance yesterday, Monday 10 June that there is no avian or swine flu virus in the Dominican Republic. She says she has no idea why Haiti would prohibit the import of poultry products from the country.
Public Health Minister Freddy Hidalgo and Octavio De la Maza Rua, Deputy Director of the Livestock section of the Ministry of Agriculture both echoed her comments.
Reneau-Vernon said that none of the Haitian authorities had spoken to the Dominican PAHO office. She said the influenza currently affecting the DR is AH1N1 human influenza flu. She said that the public should not be alarmed and that flu shots are being given to vulnerable population groups.
She went on to say that the public should take preventative measures to avoid infection such as washing hands and covering their nose and mouth with a handkerchief or their elbow when coughing. In addition, children who have the virus should not go to school or nursery, to prevent passing it on to other children.
The Minister of Public Health said that eight people have died so far this year from the flu, including four pregnant women. He said that the 6,000 doses of vaccine would be used for high-risk groups such as pregnant women, children under two, people with heart conditions, diabetics, people with the HIV virus, tuberculosis, chronic asthmatics and health professionals working in clinics.
Other participants at the meeting included the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Pablo Alcides Ochoa, Amarilis Herrera, representing the Dominican Medical Association (CMD).
Wilfredo Cabrera, spokesman for the National Confederation of Agricultural Producers of the Dominican Republic (Confenagro), believes that the Haitian authorities should reconsider their decision, because it will have serious consequences especially on the Haitian economy, which is facing a food insecurity threat. He added that the measure encourages smuggling, which benefits major rings at the expense of the people of Haiti.
He said that Haiti takes advantage of any situation to block legal trade with the Dominican Republic. Senator Jose Rafael Vargas (Espaillat-PLD) said that the decision is an unjustified economic aggression against the country. He said that eggs and poultry imported from the Dominican Republic were much cheaper than imports from the United States.
Diario Libre reports today, Tuesday 11 June that there is widespread concern that the Dominican government authorities have acted timidly in response to the Haitian announcement. Minister of Industry and Commerce Jose del Castillo Savinon told Diario Libre that the Dominican government was in contact with the Haitian authorities to see if the ban could be lifted as soon as possible. The ban was announced on 6 June, a day after President Danilo Medina and President Michel Martelly met in Ouanaminthe on the occasion of World Environment Day and President Medina announced that the Dominican Republic would contribute to the reforestation of Haiti.
Dominican Ambassador in Haiti Ruben Silie said that the Dominican government had sent a diplomatic note on Friday, 7 June requesting an explanation for the Haitian decision.
www.haitilibre.com/en/news-8767-haiti-health-tense-situation-between-the-dominican-republic-and-haiti.html