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Researcher sounds alarm on bird flu
2006-03-28 09:42:07
By Asraji Mvungi, PST, Arusha
Bird flu is a real threat to Tanzania and all precautions must be taken to combat it just in case the highly contagious disease finds its way in the country, an official of Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI), has said.
’Bird flu scare is increasingly becoming a threat to many African countries including Tanzania.
The disease has already penetrated into Cameroon, Nigeria and Egypt,’ said Dr Julius Keyu of TAWIRI who is coordinating a project monitoring birds’ movement to check on the disease.
He expressed fears that there was a great possibility for the disease to enter Tanzania following close relationship the country has with effected African and non-African countries.
Dr Keyu allayed fears that the disease has already penetrated East Africa and assured that preparations were on a very high gear to combat the disease in case it happens to strike.
He said TAWIRI was monitoring birds’ movement all over the county, and the birds entering Tanzania from other nations were being tested randomly for the disease.
He said according to the research done, so far it was clear the disease has not entered the county.
’All birds that have landed in the country in the areas of research none has been detected to be having the bird flu virus,’ said Keyu.
Over 570 birds have been tested in the last few months and none was found with the bird flu virus, he said.
The research is coordinated by TAWIRI Agricultural Development Research Institute (ADRI) and Tanzania Bird Atlas (TBA), he said.
Dr Keyu said areas reached and number of birds tested (in brackets) are:
Mtera, Dodoma Region (128) birds; Indian Ocean Coast, Dar es Salaam (126) birds; Nyumba ya Mungu dam; Kililimanjaro Region (126)birds; Lake Victoria Beach (125)birds; and Tlawi dam and Basotu area in Mbulu (63) birds.
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