Uganda has banned the importation of poultry and poultry products amid growing fears that an outbreak of a deadly stain of bird flu in Europe and Asia may spread to east Africa, local media reported on Friday.

"We are not going to allow any importation of poultry or poultry products. We are under international obligations to take action," said William Olaho, director of animal resources and disease prevention at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.

The ban comes as the world struggle to contain the bird flu that has discovered in Russia, Romania, Turkey and possible Greece and could soon reach Africa. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization has warned Uganda and other east African countries to guard against the deadly disease from migratory birds.

A Thai farmer who slaughtered and ate a chicken became the world's 61st victim of the H5N1 avian influenza virus. Experts fear the virus could cause a pandemic if it mutates into a form easily transmissible between people.

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

Source: Xinhua