Yankuba Touray, Secretary of State for Fisheries and Water Resources, stated that Avian influenza has grown over the past few years to become a global threat to livelihood and lives.

According to him, the first HPAI (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influence) H5NI outbreak in Africa was confirmed last year February and since then, many other countries were infected in Western and Central Africa.

SOS Touray made these remarks yesterday at the opening of a three-day sub-regional training workshop on the improvement of bio-security on poultry farms and live bird markets in Western Africa, funded by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, in collaboration with the Canadian International Development Agency, at the Paradise Suites in Kololi.

According to him, although less rapid than initially expected, the continuous spread of the H5NI virus within the region is of major concern, because it increases the risk of human pandemic and could have a devastating impact on poultry production in the continent by putting at immediate risk the livelihood of millions of people (poultry producers traders, veterinarians, owners of restaurants and fast food).

“In addition to the multiple roles and functions played by poultry and their products in socio-cultural lives of numerous local communities, the increased exposure of human to the virus may have negative public health implications, especially in the disadvantaged groups and less favoured areas of Africa,” he said.

He further noted that The Gambia faces a threat, both from infected poultry, wild-bird imports and infected migratory water fowl. He added that The Gambia is no exception in this global effort to contain the flu.

“So, the country has developed a comprehensive National Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan for Avian Influence, which provides a framework for addressing the growing global threat. The Gambia attaches great importance to regional approach in the prevention and control of the Avian flu, considering the transboundary nature of the disease,” said SoS Touray.

For his part, David Walter Bowen, Food and Agriculture Organisation, Country Representative in The Gambia, said Emergency Funds have been provided to support emergency plans to control HPAI and to establish regional networks on surveillance, diagnostic and disease information.

The FAO boss added that the key to an effective response to the highly-pathogenic Avian influence crisis is coordination.

Other speakers at the occasion included Mr Nyada Baldeh, Director of the National Agricultural Development Agency (NADA) and Sulayman Trawally, Permanent Secretary, Department of State for Agriculture.

The programme was attended by participants from sub- regional countries, namely Liberia, Sierra Leone and Ghana, and was chaired by Dr Babucarr Jaw, Director of the Gambia Veterinary Services.