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KENYA: DEAD CHICKEN DUMPED IN NAIROBI SCARES PEOPLE OF BIRD FLU February 28, 2006

Apunyu Bonny

(SomaliNet) Hundreds of chicken were found dumped in Nairobi’s residential estates causing panic of a possible outbreak of bird virus in Kenya. Kenya's health experts are collecting samples from carcasses of the birds. Local media reported Monday. - Xinhua

Mean while Kenya’s health authorities have dismissed scares of bird flu assuring Kenyans that tests carried out on dead birds found in other parts of the country had not found any traces of the deadly Avian influenza that has caused a scare in parts of Africa, Asia and Europe.

Kenya’s Medical Services Director, James Nyikal said the east African nation was on full alert to deal with any cases of bird flu.

"As a ministry we are taking all measures to ensure no birds enter the country with the disease and our staffs in the field have been put on alert," Nyikal said.

"People must report any mysterious deaths of birds found anywhere and they should not attempt to dispose them by themselves, as this might turn out to be dangerous," he warned.

Kenya’s Assistant Director of Veterinary Services, Catherine Wanjohi said the tentative results would be out soon, adding that the over 400 dead broilers were found dumped by the roadside in Kasarani, Nairobi. Some of the chicken were stuffed in gunny bags and dumped in roadside drainage canals while others littered the area, said Wanjohi.

Wanjohi said conclusive results on whether the birds had died of the deadly H5N1 virus would be announced in ten days.

"We can get ... conclusive results in about one and a half week’s time," Wanjohi said.

Wanjohi said several other tests had been done on dead birds recovered from several parts of the country.

However, like Nyikal, she said none of the cases had tested positive for the deadly flu.