Eritrea: High risk of bird flu

2006-03-02 21:03

Asmara - The UN World Health Organisation (WHO) warned on Thursday that Eritrea was at a high risk of cross border transmission of the avian flu after the virus erupted in Egypt and tests revealing cases of bird flu-like infection in neighbouring Ethiopia.

"The risk is very high for Eritrea, because there have been confirmed cases in Egypt and cases, still unconfirmed, in Ethiopia," the WHO's representative in Eritrea Andrew Kosia told AFP.

Kosia called for assistance for the impoverished Horn of African nation should the infection erupt, adding that measures were being taken to guard against a possible infection.

Drugs

"We have started stockpiles of vaccines and Tamiflu capsules.

"But we need international assistance to supply more drugs, we don't have enough if bird flu breaks out soon," Kosia said.

"We are also stockpiling masks, and staff from different Eritrean ministries are being sent to Kenya for training."

Eritrea shares a more than 1 000km border with Ethiopia, while its northern tip is only about 500km south of Egypt.

An inter-ministerial panel for bird flu prevention has urged Eritreans to report any case of bird illnesses or deaths.

Eritrea, like many other African nations, has banned imports of poultry since last October.

Although the H5N1 strain does not spread easily between people, those who come in contact with sick birds can contract it and scientists say millions of people worldwide could die if it mutates into a disease communicable among humans.

- AFP