Kenya bans poultry imports

2005-10-24 11:23

Nairobi - Kenya on Tuesday banned the import of all fowl from countries where outbreaks of a deadly strain of bird flu have been confirmed and put veterinary experts on high alert in a bid to prevent the disease from spreading to the East African nation.

Amid fears the H5N1 virus may spread to Africa from Europe with migratory birds, Kenya's livestock and fisheries ministry said no cases had been found in the country but that prudence dictated the imposition of "preventative measures".

With immediate effect it said it had prohibited "importation of domestic and wild birds and their products from countries affected by bird flu and would require sanitary permits for imports of domestic fowl from any nation".

"Veterinary technical personnel at all entry points into the country have been put on high alert to thoroughly inspect all domestic birds and their products being imported into the country," the ministry said.

East Africa a high-risk area

The H5N1 virus, which has killed 60 people in the Far East, was confirmed in Romania on Saturday only two days after it was identified in Turkey.

Although the flu 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 the strain mutates into a disease communicable among humans.

East Africa, notably the Rift Valley countries of Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania are considered particularly at risk for bird flu as they host millions of migratory fowl that fly south to warmer climes during the European winter.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has warned that the virus could reach Africa by December or next spring.

Without international assistance, poverty-stricken African nations whose populations are already at risk from hunger and suppressed immune systems could be overwhelmed if the virus appears and jumps to humans, according to experts.

- AFP