Kampala — VEHICLES from Sudan entering Uganda through Koboko and Arua districts are to be disinfected, reports Frank Mugabi.

This follows the confirmed cases of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu in the southern Sudanese capital of Juba last month.

Health officials at a three-day regional workshop on bird flu that ended in Arua town on Friday recommended spraying in light of the increased business traffic between Uganda and Juba.

The UN Food and Agricultural Organisation organised the workshop that involved district directors of health services, veterinary officers, chief administrative officers and health educators from the 14 northern districts bordering Sudan.

All vehicles will be subjected to drive through a disinfection wheel well to be sunk at Oraba border post in Koboko district while passengers will be required to disinfect their shoes.

The workshop also agreed that a check-point be set up at Oraba to check for smuggled fowl.

Recently, the Arua district bird flu taskforce banned the importation of poultry from Sudan and Congo.

Arua district veterinary officer Dr. Gordon Victor Toa said the district had put a ban on the re-entry of egg trays from the lucrative market in Juba.

He said a team comprising of mainly medical and veterinary experts was set up in the district to work on information provided by the Village Alert System.