Mozambique on bird flu alert

2005-11-03 13:15

Fred Katerere

Maputo - Mozambican wildlife authorities have issued an alert warning that migratory birds from Asia and Europe could introduce bird flu when they return to Mozambique for the summer.

Masses of birds migrate to the Gorongosa National Park, the Quirimbas and Bazaruto Archipelagos, Lake Niassa, the Zambezi delta, Inhambane and the Maputo Reserve each year.

These areas are popular tourist destinations, especially between August and December.

Paula Chaplin, marketing manager at Benguerra Lodge - which is on the Bazaruto Archipelago - said on Wednesday that tourists may panic due to the alert and cancel bookings.

"There is a possibility that bookings to the resorts in the affected areas will drop because most people are worried about bird flu," she said.

Last week, Mozambique's agriculture authorities banned poultry imports from several European countries that have reported cases of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu.

Bird flu is very contagious among some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks and turkeys.

Infected birds spread the virus through their saliva, nasal secretions and faeces.

There have been several instances reported since 1997 of bird flu being transmitted to humans. It can be deadly.

- African Eye