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Barbados has stepped up monitoring at its ports of entry in response to a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak confirmed in Suriname in September, according to reporting from Barbados Today. The H5 strain of avian influenza devastated a commercial poultry operation in the Wanica and Paramaribo areas, killing approximately 5,000 broiler chickens before veterinary authorities culled the remaining 1,000 birds on the property.
Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Mark Trotman sought to reassure the public that Barbados faces no immediate threat to its poultry industry. He emphasized that the island’s existing quarantine protocols and permitting system—which restricts poultry and meat imports to approved countries only—provide robust protection. Notably, Barbados does not engage in meaningful commercial poultry trade with Suriname, further reducing risk through formal channels.
However, Dr Trotman acknowledged that vulnerability exists through informal and unregulated importation routes. In response, customs and agricultural officials have been instructed to exercise heightened diligence at ports, particularly to intercept illegal importations that might be concealed in baggage or smuggled through unofficial channels. The veterinary services department is not implementing emergency bans or restrictions at present, but remains prepared to introduce more stringent measures should the regional situation deteriorate.
Barbados is developing enhanced diagnostic capacity to detect potential cases. A new state-of-the-art testing laboratory is scheduled for completion later in 2026, though the veterinary services department maintains preliminary in-house serology testing capability in the interim. Dr Trotman emphasized that a rapid response mechanism stands ready to investigate, sample, and confirm any suspected outbreak through reference laboratories overseas.
The chief veterinary officer stressed that the primary concern is not human infection from imported meat, but rather the catastrophic impact the virus could inflict on domestic poultry farms and national food security. He urged local poultry rearers to maintain rigorous biosecurity practices, including chemical footbaths, strict operational cleanliness, and careful observation for signs of illness in animals. The Suriname outbreak was discussed at a recent meeting of CARICOM Chief Veterinary Officers, where veterinary assistance was offered to Surinamese counterparts, though the isolated outbreak did not trigger widespread regional alarm.
The Pan American Health Organisation is conducting advanced laboratory testing to determine the specific genetic strain of the Suriname outbreak and how the virus affects birds. Guyana, which borders Suriname, was placed on high alert following the discovery of the H5 strain in the neighbouring CARICOM member state.
As a CARICOM member state, Barbados faces potential disease transmission risks from regional outbreaks. The heightened port surveillance and biosecurity measures reflect the interconnected nature of Caribbean agriculture and food security, with implications for poultry farmers and consumers across the region.
Sources and attribution
- Barbados Today
- Tests into the sharply increased mortality among broiler chickens in Suriname have found samples positive for influenza A, type H5
- Uitbraak vogelgriep wordt nauwkeurig gemonitord
- Guyana heightens bird flu surveillance as Suriname outbreak kills 5000 chickens – INews Guyana
- Barbados authorities step up poultry surveillance after …
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