Togo destroys 3 000 chickens

LOME – Togo has destroyed more than 3 000 frozen chickens of suspect origin for fear of introducing the devastating bird-flu virus into the West African country, announced officials last Friday.

“These chickens have no health certificates and they have been outside the control of health inspectors, since the vehicle that carried them was seized in the city of Lome,” Togolese agricultural minister Yves Madow Nagou said on national television, announcing the destruction that took place on Thursday. Togo has banned since October the import of live chickens and their products coming from countries afflicted with the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus.Lome has also reinforced inspections on poultry coming from countries still untouched by the virus and crafted a national plan to fight against bird flu.Epidemiologists have warned the H5N1 strain could trigger a global pandemic if it were to mutate and become easily transmitted between humans.Experts are particularly fearful of the virus’ potential effects in Africa, among other possible hot spots.Nampa-AFPTogo has banned since October the import of live chickens and their products coming from countries afflicted with the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus.Lome has also reinforced inspections on poultry coming from countries still untouched by the virus and crafted a national plan to fight against bird flu.Epidemiologists have warned the H5N1 strain could trigger a global pandemic if it were to mutate and become easily transmitted between humans.Experts are particularly fearful of the virus’ potential effects in Africa, among other possible hot spots.Nampa-AFP