Bird-flu hoax causes slaughter

2006-02-15 18:17

Lusaka - Hundreds of villagers in southern Zambia have slaughtered their chickens and goats in the wake of false reports of the presence of the deadly bird flu having reached the country, news reports said on Wednesday.

Chieftainess Chiawa of the Goba people in lower Zambezi confirmed that her people had slaughtered all their poultry and goats after hearing of an outbreak of the deadly H5N1 virus that can transfer to humans in Zambia.

It was not clear who was responsible for the false reports, according to local media. Villagers were told that the virus could easily spread to goats too, prompting the mass slaughter. Some villagers sold their poultry for as little as 50 cents.

Zambia has set up a task force of health and agricultural officials and representatives of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation to respond to the threat of the global bird flu epidemic to human life.

Government has so far imposed restrictions on the import of all bird species that include poultry and poultry products.

However, funding to contain any possible outbreak of the disease has fallen far short, raising concern among consumer watchdogs. The impoverished southern African country has allocated $20 000 to fight bird flu.

UN agencies have advised African governments to suspend trade in poultry as an immediate control measure to prevent its spread following an outbreak in the west African nation of Nigeria. - Sapa-dpa

- SAPA