GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):

Guyana joined Antigua and Barbuda in imposing a ban on the importation of all poultry and poultry products from the Dominican Republic following a recent outbreak of the generic form of avian influenza (bird flu).

Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy said that "this is the closest the disease, popularly known as bird flu, has come to Guyana".

He defended the decision to impose the ban noting that until the extent of the outbreak is known in the Dominica Republic, the country would not be taking any chances.

Dominican Republic health officials said they had already culled 115 chickens and that the bird flu outbreak in the town of Higuey, was discovered last month.

Ramsammy said the population should not be fearful about the disease since Guyana has put a strategy in place to deal with a possible outbreak.

"What is important is the early detection of the disease, should it enter the country and that is what my ministry and other stakeholders have been working on in recent times," he said.