Rwanda is one of the few developing countries deemed successful in containing epidemics, particularly the highly pathogenic Avian Influenza, commonly known as Bird Flu.

This was stated by Dr. Theogéne Rutagwenda, director general of Rwanda Animal Resource Development Authority (RARDA) on his return from New Delhi, India, where he attended an international conference on epidemics.

Dr Rutagwenda and Dr Jean Marie Vianney Nizeyimana of the Ministry of Health, both members of the national avian influenza taskforce, attended the two-day conference where it was noted that developing countries had achieved much despite limitations of national resources and capacities.

The conference fund-raised pledges of $406 million to fight the scourge and it reiterated the need to improve the capacity of animal health systems to reduce the threats of avian influenza and similar epidemics. Rwanda received $0.5 million from the global fund against the poultry epidemic which it used in rehabilitating and equipping the Influenza laboratory in Rubirizi, Rutagwenda (right) said.

The country is currently on high alert following a recent outbreak of Ebola – a deadly fever – in Uganda which has so far claimed about 30 people.

Ends