Africa on alert as mass migration starts

African states are bracing for a possible bird flu outbreak as anxiety grows with the arrival of migratory birds feared to be carrying the deadly viral strain from Asia and Europe.

"Some birds have begun arriving ... from Europe. We have been observing them for one week and so far we have not noted anything," said Ibrahima Diop, an official at the Senegalese Djoudj park, where millions of migratory birds flock every year.

"We have told the people to report any sick bird in the rice fields and in the marshes which they frequent on their arrival," added Diop.

Several African states have taken precautionary measures and have issued bans on imports on poultry and their products from countries where cases of the H5N1 virus have been reported.

But as the bans were issued across the continent, experts have expressed fear that many African countries have inadequate capacity to deal with a possible pandemic if it finally establishes itself on the continent, whose scarce resources are already overstretched in the fight against other deadly diseases.

But East African nations, which alongside Ethiopia, are on the vulnerable Rift Valley migratory path, have put veterinary officials on high alert for possible infection.

"We are not an island that is not reachable," said Nsachris Mwamaja, a spokesman for the Tanzanian health ministry, after experts warned that the possible arrival of migratory birds from Europe have made east Africa the next likely site for an outbreak.

Similar warnings were sounded in neighbouring Kenya and Uganda.

"We are not going to allow any importation of poultry or poultry products," said William Olaho, director of animal resources and disease prevention at Uganda's agriculture ministry.

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

High-level meeting

In addition, African experts will next week hold talks in the Rwandan capital Kigali to map out plans to combat the potentially devastating flu.

Migratory birds believed to be carriers may next take the virus to Africa, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization has said, warning that the continent would be an "ideal breeding ground" because of close contact between people and animals.

In Morocco, health officials said there was not yet reports of bird flu infections but measures were in place to combat any eventuality.

"We have strengthened our surveillance on the migratory birds to check whether there is a rise in the death of domestic fowl population," said Abdelslam Bouchafra from an animal protection society.

"The migratory birds are the only virus carriers and transmit it to domestic fowls, but we think that if they are infected, there will be an increase in death of domestic poultry," he added.

Although the flu does not easily spread between people, those who come in contact with sick birds can contract it. Scientists say millions of people worldwide could die if the strain mutates into a communicable disease spreads among humans.

Source: China Daily