Cameroon: Poultry Farmers, Communicators Drilled On Bird Flu Prevention

Since the outbreak of avian influenza in Cameroon, an inter-divisional 2-day workshop held in Kumbo brought together poultry farmers, livestock technicians, health personnel, communicators and other community workers from Donga-Mantung, Ngoketunjia, and Bui Divisions. Workshop participants were drilled on various strategies to prevent avian flu through rigorous hygiene and sanitation methods with an emphasis on behaviour change, as traditional habits in handling birds were identified as likely vectors for facilitating the spread of the disease. Participants drew up action plans that would be implemented up to December 2008.

A veterinarian was present to explain hygiene and sanitation measures and caution poultry farmers to monitor birds routinely, protect poultry feed and water sources, and regularly clean and disinfect their farms. A district medical officer emphasised the need to prevent the disease from attacking humans by proper cooking of birds before eating, reporting suspected cases of birds to appropriate authorities, and proper food handling. He warned against the practice of eating sick or dead birds.

The Government of Cameroon has to set up an inter-ministerial committee to monitor and handle the situation and coordinate with organisations like the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Japanese and United States (US) governments in the prevention of bird flu, according to the workshop coordinator. She emphasised proper communication methods as a means of creating awareness of the disease and ways of handling it if there is an outbreak.