Authorities in Uganda have announced that they have detected bird flu among the migratory birds putting Ugandan citizens and the neighboring countries on high alert.
According to the ministry of agriculture in Uganda, the bird flu has been detected in two places; near Entebbe on the banks of Lake Victoria and in a district called Masaka where mass deaths of wild birds has been reported.
Following the detection of bird flu in Uganda, Kenya has moved to ban the importation of birds and their products from Uganda until the necessary measures are put in place. The government has said that all the public health and officers are on high alert in Busia and Malaba border the main entry points from Uganda to Kenya.
Juma Ngeiywa, the Chief Veterinary Officer says all permits issued to chicks, eggs, poultry meat and breeding chiken importers will have to be reviewed to safeguard the spread of bird flu in Kenya.
According to Healthline Bird flu, also called avian influenza, is a viral infection that can also infect humans and other animals. Most forms of the virus are restricted to birds. H5N1 is the most common form of bird flu. It’s deadly to birds, and can easily affect humans and other animals that come in contact with a carrier.
Among the symptoms in human beings may include:
- Cough
- Diarrhea
- respiratory difficulties
- fever (over 100.4°F)
- headache
- muscle aches
- malaise
- runny nose
- sore throat
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