COMESA ministers to convene ahead of possible bird flu pandemic

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) is summoning ministers of agriculture of its member states to meet in Cairo, Egypt, in mid-November to seek solutions to the imminent bird flu which experts say will soon force into Africa from Europe.

COMESA said in a statement released on Thursday that the possibility of bird influenza being spread to the region was very high.

"Should this happen, many countries in the region will be affected in many ways," the statement said, noting that a significant proportion of the region's population depend on poultry rearing economically.

"Hence, an outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza in these communities could spell disaster for the region," it said.

COMESA said not only is the disease likely to wipe out poultry populations and lead to human health devastation, but it will also affect trade in poultry and poultry products through the imposition of measures restricting their movement from one country to another.

The total trade in poultry and poultry products in the region currently stands at 15 million US dollars per year, according to the regional economic bloc.

COMESA said it would assist member states to source technical, financial and material support for strengthening their surveillance and animal disease emergency preparedness systems and for controlling the disease.

There is also need to put in place a regional information exchange network that will facilitate early reaction to the disease, the statement said.

Source: Xinhua