November 10, 2005

East African countries collaborate to prevent bird flu spread
 

Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda agreed Wednesday to form a body to coordinate efforts in East Africa to prevent the possible spread of bird flu in the region, officials said.

East Africa is on the migratory path of birds flying to the warmer climate of the region, from the winter in Europe, where there have been reported cases of bird flu.

Members of the regional coordinating body will be drawn from each country's task force on bird flu, said Kipyego Cheluget, a deputy secretary general of the East African Community regional body.

Kenya already has such a task force, Uganda has just formed one, but Tanzania is yet to form its own, said William Mukani, Uganda's director of animal resources.

The region does not have enough equipment, drugs and vaccines to contain the disease, if bird flu were to be diagnosed and spread in East Africa, the region's officials said in a statement at the end of a one-day meeting Wednesday.

All three countries have banned the import of poultry and none has reported a case of bird flu.

Migratory birds are believed to have brought the virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu to Europe, from Asia, and they are headed across the Middle East and into Africa.

The H5N1 outbreak began in 2003 in Asia, where it has devastated flocks and infected humans. It has killed at least 64 people, with most of the deaths linked to direct contact with infected birds.

Authorities fear that H5N1 could mutate into a form that is easily passed from human to human, sparking a possible pandemic.