30 September 2009
editorial
AVIAN influenza, sometimes referred to as bird flu, has devastating effects on poultry and in rare occasions infects humans.
Although this viral disease which mainly affects domestic poultry has not reached Zambia and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, it is important that proactive measures are taken rather than employing a reactive approach.
Scientific research has shown that the high pathogenic form of the virus spreads rapidly in poultry with a 100 per cent mortality, often within 48 hours.
The SADC region has therefore employed a more proactive approach towards this challenge and launched the avian influenza simulation exercise to examine weaknesses and exchange techniques on how to handle a possible outbreak.
Health Minister, Kapembwa Simbao during the launch at Fringilla Lodge in Chisamba area yesterday, observed that Zambia's vision was to create a strong sustainable partnership that would be able to overcome any outbreak of avian influenza.
With the coming on board of 33 international guests at Fringilla Lodge, it is hoped that stakeholders involved in this exercise will come up with a sustainable preparedness programme that would be able to assist in handling this deadly viral disease, if it were to break out.
The current outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza that began in South-East Asia in mid 2003 are the most severe on record. The virus is now considered endemic in many parts of Asia.
This regional bloc's initiative is thus timely and should be taken seriously, while the resolutions from this important meeting should be implemented.
Poultry in Zambia and other countries in the SADC region is an income earner at subsistence and commercial levels. It also provides a nutritious source of food.
There are thousands if not millions of people in Zambia that are dependent on poultry for their income. It is now common for households to extend their dwellings and start rearing chickens in their backyards.
If this disease were to break out in Zambia, there would be a disastrous effect not only at household level, but also at national level.
At regional level, the effects would equally be disastrous because trade in poultry among member states would come to an end, as the birds would be destroyed to avoid the spread of the disease.
It is important, therefore, that diseases that are threatening humans, livestock, and wildlife are handled on a more proactive basis.
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