A five-day sub-regional seminar on the prevention and control of Avian Influenza Incident Command System opens at the Paradise Suites hotel yesterday.

The seminar, organized by the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services through the US Embassy in Banjul in collaboration with the National Agricultural Development Agency brought together participants from Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Senegal and The Gambia.

Declaring the programme open, Mr Kekoi Kuyateh, Permanent Secretary at the Department of State for Agriculture, noted that in spite of continued efforts by countries and their partners to prevent, control and halt the spread of Avian Influenza, the disease seems to be spreading to more countries.

“Avian Influenza posses a real threat to the lives and livelihoods of millions of people around the world, to the economy and human health. Cognizant of this fact, the Gambia commits itself to harmonized, coordinated and partnership building approach as the most effective way in dealing with the disease,” Mr. Kuyateh added.

According to Mr. Kuyateh, since the first outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Nigeria in 2006, the disease has now spread to 10 more African countries. This, he added, emphasizes the need for more efforts in dealing with the disease.