East African Business Week

KAMPALA UGANDA-Ugandan traders in Southern Sudan dealing in poultry have been cautioned to be more vigilant of any signs of avian influenza (bird flu).
The emphasis was made recently during an Avian influenza (bird flu) workshop in Namboole, a city suburb where focus was made on the causes, signs, transmission patterns as well as preventive measures of the influenza.
Mr. Richard okwir, a senior Health Educator with the ministry of health said since poultry is one of the major items that Ugandan and Sudanese traders trade in, there were higher chances of an outbreak since the virus was more exposed to wild migratory birds.
"There is no cause for alarm right now but my humble appeal to these traders is to take earlier preventive measures so that incase of any future outbreaks, we are fully prepared to deal with influenza," Okwir explained.
He added that if any one in the business local community noticed any signs of the influenza, they had to report immediately to local health officials and veterinary officials in various districts of both countries.
Some of the common signs and symptoms of bird flu include ruffled feathers, soft-shelled eggs, blood-tinged discharge from nostrils and purplish-blue coloring of the comb.
 Avian influenza viruses can be transmitted on contaminated shoes, clothing, crates, egg cases and other equipment through direct contact with an infected poultry farm.
Journalists' reporting skills on the other hand in covering such issues were sharpened through briefings on the latest developments on the bird flu.
They were mainly updated on the 15 types of avian flu which were all caused by the various strains of type A influenza virus.
Mr.  Sam Enginyu, another senior health educator emphasized the need for the media to be the eyes of the people when covering such health events.
"Journalists have a very vital role to play in educating and informing the masses on such health issues," Enginyu said.
Although human cases of avian flu are rare, people who become infected with the H5N1 virus can become seriously ill and die while having symptoms of human influenza, including a sore throat, aching muscles and fever.
Anti-viral drugs designed to fight human influenza have been noted by health experts to prevent serious illness in people who become infected with the avian flu virus.