Uganda's poultry products safe, says agriculture minister

The government has asked Ugandans and neighboring countries dealing in poultry products, especially domestic birds, not to worry about bird flu saying it was under control.

According to Vincent Ssempijja, the minister for agriculture, the government is currently carrying out continuous veterinary inspections and technical backstopping to commercial farms, to ensure biosecurity measures are strictly adhered to.

" Fortunately, these farms are located far away from the 10km quarantine radius range, and can produce safe poultry and poultry products for local and export markets," Ssempijja said.

The minister made the remarks, while addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Center in Kampala, on the steps Government is undertaking to control the avian influenza.

He noted that the disease had been confirmed in seven wild migratory birds, five domestic ducks and one chicken.

According to Ssempijja, several other samples from suspect cases are being picked for testing.  He added that Kalangala and Masaka districts had reported deaths in both wild and domestic birds.

"Wakiso district has reported no cases in domestic birds, but Uganda Wild life Authority (UWA) estimates about 950 white wingled black tern migratory birds to have died in the district so far," he explained.