The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) has announced new measures intended to curb the outbreak of avian influenza in poultry, commonly known as Bird-Flu. According to a statement from the ministry, the measures including imposing a temporary ban on chicken and other poultry products countries where the disease has been identified, including neighboring Uganda; and inspection of birds at forests and parks. The measures are being put in place following the outbreak of the disease in the neighbouring country, in areas like Entebbe and Masaka, according to reports. The viral disease had earlier been confirmed in some of European countries such as Hungary, Germany, France and Denmark among others. “The importation of chickens and poultry products (eggs and meat) from Uganda or any other European countries where this disease has been identified are temporally suspended,” reads part of the statement signed by Agriculture Minister Dr. Gerardine Mukeshimana. The established symptoms of the diseases, according to the statement, include head and neck and esophagus swelling (inflammation), complicated breathing, cough and diarrhea. According to the National Health Service (NHS), public health services of England, Scotland and Wales, within days of symptoms appearing, potentially fatal complications such as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome and multiple organ failure may develop. Prompt treatment with antiviral medication may help prevent complications and reduce the risk of death, NHS states. Vincent Ssempijja, Uganda Agriculture Minister was quoted in the media confirming that specimens taken from white-winged tern birds that died recently in Wakiso District, “unfortunately have turned positive to the very serious disease; the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)”. As per the World Health Organisation (WHOA), avian influenza viruses are highly contagious, extremely variable viruses that are widespread in birds. Wild birds in aquatic habitats are thought to be their natural reservoir hosts, but domesticated poultry are readily infected. MINAGRI has requested organs in charge of security, customs, migration and immigration at borders, park and lake wardens and local government to implement and monitor these measures so that the disease does not spread to Rwanda. The Rwanda Agriculture Board head of animal resources department, Dr. Christine Kanyandekwe told The New Times on Tuesday that the disease’s virus is very dynamic and that its vaccine needs gradual research like after every six months’ period to ensure its efficacy. “The avian flu’s virus is so complex such that people prioritise other preventive majors,’ she said. She noted that all the customs agents have a copy of the statement issued by MINAGRI and that a meeting was held yesterday (Monday) between workers of the three ministries at borders so that they implement the instructions. Monitoring wild birds However a complex issue is how to control the probable influx of wild infected birds from the neighbouring country or other countries into Rwanda’s forests or national parks. The Head of Wildlife Veterinary Unit at Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Dr. Tony Mudakikwa said that they are going to train their workers mainly in Akagera [National Park] on monitoring the wild bird flock. “Because the viral disease has already been confirmed in Uganda, it can reach the lakes and Akagera,” he said. “We are going to carry out training for our workers on how they can do reporting system, how they can carry out early detection and preventive measures and monitoring so as to control the virus,’ he told The New Times on Tuesday. There are between 4.5 to five million chickens in Rwanda according to RAB’s Dr. Kanyandekwe.
