Malawi in a bird flu scare
Ministry of Agriculture says it is doing all it can to prevent a bird flu in the country.
The assurance follows reports of an outbreak of the disease in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zimbabwe.
Bird flu, which is a highly contagious disease of poultry, is transmitted through contact with infected domesticated and wild birds.
It negatively impacts on national economies and food security through the disruption of trade in poultry and can also cause deaths in humans.
A press statement from the Ministry of Agriculture signed by Principal Secretary, Erica Maganga, says Malawi has intensified its ban on the importation of poultry and poultry products from Zimbabwe and DRC.
“The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development has, therefore, intensified its preventive measures to ensure that the disease is not introduced into the country including enforcement of the importation ban on poultry and poultry products from Zimbabwe and DRC,” reads the statement in part.
The statement further says the ministry is engaging key stakeholders such as poultry producers and importers on the matter.
It adds that the government has intensified surveillance for early detection as well as diagnostic capacity for screening and confirmation of the disease.
“The ministry would also like to assure the general public that it is doing everything possible to protect the nation from the disease and the ministry will continue to regularly update the general public on the status of this deadly disease,” it reads.
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