The ministries of agriculture and that of health have announced in a that Uganda is now free from the highly pathogenic Avian Influenza, commonly known as bad flu which attacked the districts of Wakiso, Kalangala and Masaka in January this year.
The outbreak of the infectious disease was declared by the authorities on January 15, 2017 as it affected domestic poultry and wild birds in the districts of Wakiso, Kalangala and Masaka along the shores of Lake Victoria.
“The outbreak negatively impacted on the country’s economy resulting from trade bans on exportation of poultry and poultry products to Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and death of poultry among others,” a joint statement by the ministries reads in part.
According to the statement, concerted and coordinated efforts by a multi-sectoral national task force were put in place to control the outbreak.
“The Ministry of Agriculture… has been carrying out active surveillance in all affected districts around the shores of Lake Victoria and Kalangala islands and laboratory samples collected from domestic poultry and wild birds have been confirmed negative since March 2017 to date. Therefore, the country is hereby declared free from highly pathogenic Avian Influenza,” the statement reads.
The Government and technical teams in the ministry together with their counterparts in the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries in Kenya have been conducting surveillance and risk assessment in view of lifting the ban on trade in poultry and poultry products to Kenya, the statement reads.
“The Government of Kenya has now agreed to partially lift the trade ban through compartments. Compartments are certified and licenced firms/entities that have fulfilled the exporting conditions,” it reads.
The officers say that recommendations for improvement for the other firms that do not yet comply have been compiled and the ministry will work together with the poultry industry stakeholders to ensure these are fulfilled so that eventually there is total lifting of the ban on poultry and poultry products.
The ministry has advised the public to be vigilant and report any cases of mysterious death of both domestic and wild birds to the district authorities.
