Bird Flu Confirmed At Lutembe Beach Uganda

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Connie Acayo, the spokesperson of the ministry told Xinhua by telephone that confirmatory test of dead birds on Lutembe beach on the shores of Lake Victoria and in Masaka district showed that the disease had broken out.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-01/15/c_135982837.htm

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KAMPALA, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Birdflu has broken out in the central part of Uganda, a senior ministry of agriculture official said on Saturday.

Bird flu breaks out in Uganda

Source: Xinhua | 2017-01-15 04:31:54 | Editor: huaxia

Connie Acayo, the spokesperson of the ministry told Xinhua by telephone that confirmatory test of dead birds on Lutembe beach on the shores of Lake Victoria and in Masaka district showed that the disease had broken out.

"It is a very serious disease and the minister of agriculture will be issuing out a statement on Sunday," she said.

She added that government is going to issue precautionary measures to prevent the disease from spreading further.

Uganda is among the countries in sub-Saharan Africa that face a high risk of a bird flu outbreak because it is crisscrossed by several routes for migratory birds, which are carriers of the virus.

Birdflu or avian influenza is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus, according to World Health Organization.

The infection can cause a wide spectrum of symptoms in birds, ranging from mild illness, which may pass unnoticed, to a rapidly fatal disease that can cause severe epidemics.

According to the global health body, avian influenza viruses do not normally infect humans but there have been instances of certain highly pathogenic strains causing severe respiratory disease in humans.

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Map Update

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?hl=en&hl=en&authuser=0&authuser=0&mid=1aNOepBDPUd0zdRnQE1UbSW8djsk&ll=-0.3177135679558115%2C31.511197581249917&z=8

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Bird flu breaks out in Uganda

Source:Xinhua Published: 2017/1/15 8:22:38

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Birdflu has broken out in the central part of Uganda, a senior ministry of agriculture official said on Saturday. 

Connie Acayo, the spokesperson of the ministry told Xinhua by telephone that confirmatory test of dead birds on Lutembe beach on the shores of Lake Victoria and in Masaka district showed that the disease had broken out. 

"It is a very serious disease and the minister of agriculture will be issuing out a statement on Sunday," she said. 

She added that government is going to issue precautionary measures to prevent the disease from spreading further. 

Uganda is among the countries in sub-Saharan Africa that face a high risk of a bird flu outbreak because it is crisscrossed by several routes for migratory birds, which are carriers of the virus. 

Birdflu or avian influenza is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus, according to World Health Organization. 

The infection can cause a wide spectrum of symptoms in birds, ranging from mild illness, which may pass unnoticed, to a rapidly fatal disease that can cause severe epidemics. 

According to the global health body, avian influenza viruses do not normally infect humans but there have been instances of certain highly pathogenic strains causing severe respiratory disease in humans.

http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1028849.shtml

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ird Flu Breaks Out in Entebbe, Masaka

 

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Bird Flu affects both Humans and birds

By: Paul Mugume

•  Jan 15,2017
•  191 Viewed
• Be The First To Comment

The Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Hon Vincent Ssempijja has Sunday morning confirmed reports of the break out of the deadly, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (Bird flu) in the districts of Entebbe and Masaka.

The disease cases, according to Hon Ssempijja were first reported by the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) on January 2nd after mass deaths of wild birds seen by fishermen at Lutembe beach at the shores of Lake Victoria near Entebbe.

Other reports would later come in on January 13th indicating death of domesticated birds in Masaka District.

“After consultations with the Government Chemist and the Commissioner of Animal Health (CAH) in the Ministry, samples were taken from the dead birds and their stool all of which tested positive with Avian Influenza,” said Ssempijja.

Avian Influenza, is a viral infection affecting both humans and birds although the species that are so far affected are white winged black tern birds and domestic ducks and chicken.

Ssempijja said that a National Task Force made of both human and animal experts from government, agencies and NGO has been put in place adding that the condition is under control.

“There is a National Task Force (NTF) which is multi-disciplinary with human and animal experts that is usually called upon to handle outbreaks of diseases that affect both humans and animals. The NTF is anchored at OPM and is co-chaired by MAAIF and MOH,” he said.

“The NTF has experience and has competence to handle such outbreaks, and therefore the situation is under control.”

The minister advises the public to report any new cases of deaths of birds (both domestic and wild) and any human sicknesses to veterinary authority and health centres.

http://www.chimpreports.com/bird-flu-breaks-out-in-entebbe-masaka/

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January 15, 2017

Outbreak of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in wild and domestic birds

Speech for the Honorable Minister of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries during communication of outbreak of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreak in wild and domestic bird in Uganda 15th January 2017.

Ladies and Gentlemen
I am honoured to have this opportunity to inform you of an eminent catastrophe faces the people of our country.
My Ministry was on the 2nd January 2017 informed by Uganda Wildlife Education Center (UWEC) of a report of mass death of wild birds seen by fishermen at Lutembe beach at the shores of Lake Victoria near Entebbe. Another report was also received on 13th January 2017 from Masaka district.
UWEC communicated to Uganda Government Chemist and the Commissioner of Animal Health (CAH) of my Ministry.
My Ministry immediately sent a team to investigate the mass bird death together with a team from government chemist and UWEC.
The specimen unfortunately have turned positive to the very serious disease The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), that affects both humans and animals and which causes high number of deaths in both species.
Things that the public needs to immediately know are:
• The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is commonly referred to as AVIAN FLU or AVIAN INFLUENZA;
• This is the first time AVIAN FLU or AVIAN INFLUENZA breaks out in Uganda;
• HPAI affects humans, birds and animals;
• However, the species that are so far affected are white winged black tern birds and domestic ducks and chicken;
• 7 specimen of the white winged black tern birds have been collected from Lutembe beach and all the 7 are positive for the deadly disease;
• 2 specimen of feaces picked from the ground just dropped by birds flying away from Lutembe beach were also positive for HPAI;
• 5 domestic duck and 1 hen specimen were brought in from Masaka district were too are positive to HPAI;
• Diagnosis was undertaken by the National Animal Disease Diagnostics and Epidemiology Centre (NADDEC) MAAIF;
• Diagnosis was confirmed by the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) MOH;
• There is a National Task Force (NTF) which is multi disciplinary with human and animal experts from government, agencies and NGO that is usually called upon to handle outbreaks of diseases that affect both humans and animals. The NTF is anchored at OPM and is co-chaired by MAAIF and MOH;
• The NTF has experience and has competence to handle such outbreaks, and therefore the situation is under control;
Advice to the people:
• Report any cases of mass birds, animal, both domestic and wild to any government authority nearest to you, but especially the veterinary authorities;
• Report any cases of sickness or death of humans to the nearest human health facility (Hospital, clinic) or to the MOH;
• Bird owners MUST house them, avoiding interaction between domestic and wild birds and animals;
• People MUST not touch or eat wild birds or other wild animals that are found dead, they should instead report to the nearest veterinary authority.

What my Ministry is going to do
• Together with MOH, UWEC, UWA, Districts and all other stakeholders will;
o Immediately inform the public to avert any human catastrophe from human infections;
o Calm the population through providing accurate information and facts about HPAI;
o Intensify meetings and actions of the National Task Force on disease;
• Continues with further investigations and prevention of spread of HPAI to domestic animals and possibly to humans;
• Continue providing information to the public;
• Plan to control HPAI in domestic animals and humans.

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
This country is faced by looming catastrophe of an outbreak of HPAI currently in wild birds and has already affected some domestic birds in Masaka district;
I am calling up on all of us to actively participate by being alert of the situation and sharing this information. I also ask you to follow instructions as provided by professionals to save our people, poultry, animals and wild life.

TOGETHER WE WIN

I SAY ALL THIS FOR GOD AND MY COUTRY

https://ugandamediacentreblog.wordpress.com/2017/01/15/outbreak-of-the-highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-in-wild-and-domestic-birds/

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Sun Jan 15, 2017 | 12:48pm EST

Uganda detects bird flu in wild, domestic birds

 

 

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Uganda's ministry for agriculture said on Sunday it had detected bird flu in two locations, one affecting wild birds and another hitting domestic birds, but it did not say whether it was a strain that has spread across Europe and the Middle East.

The H5N8 strain, which is deadly for poultry but has not been found in humans, has spread in Europe and the Middle East since late last year, leading to the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of farmed birds and the confinement of flocks indoors.

China has reported human infections of the H7N9 strain of the virus, resulting in fatalities.

 

 

Uganda's Agriculture, Industry and Fisheries Ministry said in a statement that in-country tests had identified "the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), that affects both humans and animals and which causes (a) high number of deaths in both species."

But the statement did not indentify the strain.

Fishermen on Jan. 2 had reported the "mass death of wild birds" on the shores of Lake Victoria, near Entebbe, which lies near the capital. Tests proved positive.

On Jan. 13 five domestic ducks and a hen in Masaka, to the west of Kampala, were also found to be infected.

 

(Writing by Edmund Blair; Editing by Greg Mahlich)

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-birdflu-uganda-idUSKBN14Z0SZ?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter