The Minister of Agriculture Hon Vincent Ssempijja has described as “uncalled for” the closure of Kenyan and Rwandan markets on poultry products from Uganda over the reported outbreak of Bird Flu in the country.
The minister says there is no way the diseased birds in the country would have crossed the borders into the two countries.
“There was no call for panic,” said the minister, “the outbreak is completely under control; there is no chance that deceased birds could slip out.”
The minister went on to invite officials from Rwanda and Kenya to come and observe the situation in Uganda and the ongoing efforts to control the outbreak.
While addressing the media at the Uganda Media Center on Monday on the bird flu outbreak, the Minister urged Ugandans to remain calm and continue consuming their poultry products.
A multi- sector national task force, he said, has been set up to handle the Avian Influenza outbreak since it was announced.
According to the minister, Uganda has so far lost about 2billion shillings in exports since the two neighboring markets were closed.
“It’s very bad this has happened because the disease is being monitored by the best experts and besides we are also mindful of our people’s lives.”
The disease has so far been confirmed in 7 wild migratory birds, 5 domestic ducks and one chicken. Several other samples from the suspect cases are being picked for testing.
This disease was reported in Lutembe village, Mazinga, Bubeke, Kyamuswa, Bukakata and Kyesiiga sub countries in Masaka which are all located on the shores of Lake Victoria”.
“To date there are no human suspect cases of Avian Influenza identified or isolated and there have been no massive killing of any domestic birds in any of the affected districts”.