| Summary: | Increasing biosecurity when outbreaks occur Cue: Cross-border trade in poultry and poultry products is big business in much of Africa. However despite being a good source of income for the traders, and a valuable source of meat and eggs for consumers, there can be risks in this cross-border trade. Spreading disease from one country to another is one risk. For example, when Nigeria first experienced outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian flu in early 2006, neighbouring countries became very concerned. For this reason, when outbreaks of contagious livestock disease occur, governments can decide to impose a ban on all imports of the livestock concerned, at least until the outbreak is controlled. However, few governments are can make import bans completely effective; they lack the trained staff to do it. Controlling movements of livestock within a country is even more difficult. But controlling diseases like avian flu is in everyone?s interest, and it is everyone?s responsibility to prevent the disease spreading. Farmers, for instance, must know the right thing to do if they suspect one or more of their birds has caught or died from the virus. In a recent interview, Excello Zidana spoke to Michael Nkosi, a lecturer at Malawi?s Natural Resources College, and began by asking what farmers should do if one of their birds shows symptoms of the virus. IN: ?I would advise that the ?? OUT: ??Thank you very much.? DUR?N: 5?56? BACK ANNOUNCEMENT: And asking the questions was Excello Zidana. The interview comes from a radio resource pack on avian flu produced by CTA. Transcript Nkosi I would advise that the first thing that farmers should do is actually to report to the nearest veterinary station. That is the first thing, so that maybe officers should come, verify the signs and symptoms, if there is need undertake sampling, take birds to the lab and then they would do analysis. But unfortunately in Malawi we may not have the capacity to test for avian influenza. But the other thing that farmers need to do is to intensify ...
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