snip from IRIN article:
Africa doesn?t have the huge poultry populations that Asia has, Domenech said. Also risks of contamination between wild birds and poultry might be lower in Africa because there is less contact than in Asia.
However, the illegal trade in poultry and exotic birds could be a cause of outbreaks in Africa, he said. Also many Africans live with chickens in their backyards, making contamination between animals and humans more likely, Domenech said.
Furthermore, most African countries do not have the capacity to respond to outbreaks and thus when one occurs it may become difficult to contain.
Domenech also said that surveillance of wild birds in Africa is more difficult because they have natural predators such as vultures. ?Many wild birds might have died from the disease without anyone knowing,? he said.
?We are actually surprised not to have seen outbreaks already in areas with many migratory birds such as in deltas of the Senegal and Niger rivers and in East Africa?s Rift Valley,? Domenech said.
Joseph Domenech, chief veterinary officer for the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and a specialist on avian flu.
Africa doesn?t have the huge poultry populations that Asia has, Domenech said. Also risks of contamination between wild birds and poultry might be lower in Africa because there is less contact than in Asia.
However, the illegal trade in poultry and exotic birds could be a cause of outbreaks in Africa, he said. Also many Africans live with chickens in their backyards, making contamination between animals and humans more likely, Domenech said.
Furthermore, most African countries do not have the capacity to respond to outbreaks and thus when one occurs it may become difficult to contain.
Domenech also said that surveillance of wild birds in Africa is more difficult because they have natural predators such as vultures. ?Many wild birds might have died from the disease without anyone knowing,? he said.
?We are actually surprised not to have seen outbreaks already in areas with many migratory birds such as in deltas of the Senegal and Niger rivers and in East Africa?s Rift Valley,? Domenech said.
Joseph Domenech, chief veterinary officer for the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and a specialist on avian flu.
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