Uganda bans all poultry imports

2005-10-20 14:38

Kampala - Uganda has banned the import of all poultry and poultry products amid growing fears that an outbreak of a deadly strain of bird flu in Europe may spread to East Africa, a senior official said on Thursday.

"We are not going to allow any importation of poultry or poultry products, we are under international obligations to take action," said Dr William Olaho, director of animal resources and disease prevention at the ministry of agriculture.

He said the ban affected poultry imports from all foreign countries, including those where outbreaks of the H5N1 virus that has killed some 60 people in Asia have not been confirmed.

"This current threat is serious and the ban affects all importation from all countries," said Olaho.

The Ugandan announcement comes as the world struggles to contain the disease that has arrived in the European part of Russia, Romania, Turkey and possibly Greece, and is thought will soon move into Africa.

East Africa a high-risk area

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

On Tuesday, neighbouring Kenya banned the import of all fowl - domestic and wild birds - from countries where the virus has been confirmed and put veterinary experts on high alert in a bid to prevent the spread of the disease.

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.

Experts have warned that 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