According to the Minister of Health, María del Rocío Sáenz, Costa Rica is preparing a contigency plan in the event of an outbreak of the deadly Asian bird flu. At least 20 institutions are involved in the planning, among them the Social Security Administration, the Ministry of Health, the Costa Rican Institute of Investigation & Teaching in Healt and Nutrition, the Ministry of Agriculture, professional organizations, laboratories y universities.

Minister Saenz noted that “for over 4 months personnel from the Health Ministry have been preparing, many have gone to Central America to study, also laboratory personnel have gone to Chile. In one or two weeks we will notify the country what the completed contigency plan consists of. ”