Reuben Olita
9 June 2008
Kampala — The banana wilt disease has been reported in Teso and Busia districts in Kenya. Teso district agricultural officer, Linnet Kibisu, said the disease had attacked Malaba, Chakol and Busia, where people easily cross from Uganda into Kenya.
Kibisu said the banana wilt disease was reported in Uganda some years back and the Government had tried to curb it.
"The disease can be spread by people, birds and animals from Uganda," the official said on Friday.
Kibisu revealed that a quarantine had been imposed on a farm in Busia district.
The owner of the farm was banned from selling the banana, she added.
In 2001, the banana wilt disease was reported in over 32 districts in Uganda.
Insects are thought to be the most common vector of transmission at the field level.
Infected plants produce ooze, which is rich in the bacteria. It drips from natural scars associated with the male bud of the plant. Insects feeding on the bud carry the bacteria to other plants.
Spread over longer distances is more likely to be by human intervention.
"Bacteria can easily be carried on tools used to cut infected plants, so a farmer may inadvertently transfer the disease while trying to control it," Kibisu added.
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