FEAR OF BIRD FLU INFECTION FROM EATING CHICKENS SPREADS ACROSS AFRICA

NIGERIA SENDS TROOPS TO BORDER TO STOP POULTRY SMUGGLING

NIGER POULTRY BANISHED BY CONSUMERS AFTER BIRD FLU OUTBREAK IN NEIGHBOURING NIGERIA

In markets, cafes and street eateries across West Africa, customers are turning away from chicken and egg meals as fears of bird flu infection from eating poultry products intensifies.

Some market stall owners are reporting zero sales of live chickens and dressed chicken meat.

Chickens and eggs make up a large part of the daily diet for millions of Niger's most poor and hungriest people. Now they are coming to believe one of their main sources of protein may kill them, with one meal being enough to infect and kill.

No human cases have been reported so far in Niger, but a massive outbreak of avian influenza on poultry farms across neighbouring Nigeria has strengthened fears of a pandemic.

Virtually all West African governments have now banned poultry imports from Nigeria.

Intenational influenza experts have added to the confusion and fear by claiming the African continent has neither the technical knowledge or health infrastructure to halt the spread of bird flu.

In Nigeria, tens of thousands of chickens have been slaughtered since the first poultry farm outbreak was reported last week. The announcement of bird flu's arrival on the African continent saw poultry vendors panic-selling diseased birds before they were discovered. This action is believed to have helped further the spread of the virus.

Soldiers and health experts are now being stationed along Niger's 1500 kilometre southern frontier with Nigeria to stop all imports of poultry products. All imports are to be burned.

Such action will do nothing, however, to stem the traders who transport chickens and ducks on foot or by bicycle or motorcycle through forests and scrublands into Niger.

In Cameroon, preparations are already being made in cafes and restuarants for the impending day when customers no longer order chicken or duck dishes.

Goats are expected to become popular as a replacement.

(Information for this story was sourced from the Cape Argus, February 18, 2006. No link available)