Kenya bans poultry imports from Uganda over avian flu

Kenya on Wednesday banned imports of poultry products from Uganda following an outbreak of bird flu (Avian Influenza) in the country.

Willy Bett, the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries also said the government has enhanced surveillance in Western Kenya, a region that borders Uganda.

"We have convened a national taskforce that has met and developed an action plan for the country," Bett told journalists in Nairobi.

He disclosed that Nairobi is in liaison with the Ugandan veterinary authorities and the issuance of export permits for poultry products destined to Kenya in line with the Animal Diseases Act and Meat Control Act has been stopped.

He said the rapid response teams that were formed in 2009 when an outbreak of the flu hit the region have been re-activated, and members who had retired recalled and redeployed.

The government has informed and activated all agencies which are directly concerned with the surveillance, prevention, control or management of the disease both at the official border point and within borders.

The East African nation has been on a high health alert after the deadly viral disease was detected in dead birds in Uganda last week.

Bett told Kenyans to report any unusual poultry and wild bird deaths to the nearest veterinary or public health authorities; avoid contact with, consumption of birds and wild animals found dead by ensuring that all poultry and animals slaughtered for consumption are inspected by qualified public health personnel.

Kenya with a population of 32 million poultry is at high risk due to the fact that the country's border is porous.

Avian influenza is a disease caused by influenza virus Type "A" and can affect several species of food producing birds (chickens, turkeys, quails, guinea fowl), as well as pet birds and wild birds with some strains resulting in high mortality rates.

The virus has also been found to affect mammalian species including humans, rats and mice, weasels and ferrets, pigs, cats, tigers and dogs. The disease has a potential of causing great losses to the poultry industry and human lives. Endit