Authorities in The Gambia say cases of the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu have been confirmed in the country after samples sent for laboratory tests in neighbouring Senegal tested positive.
The tests were made after bird fatalities were detected in and around the Tanji Bird Reserve, west of the country.
Senegal has also been battling an epidemic of bird flu which resulted in the death of at least 1, 229 birds.
The infection has been part of a global bird flu epidemic which has killed some 200 million birds worldwide.
A joint statement originating from the Agriculture, Health and Environment ministries warns that although the presence of the disease in The Gambia puts domestic birds in danger, it also poses a risk of infection to humans, rendering it a major health concern nationwide.
Bird flu is a disease that affects mainly birds (poultry) and wild birds (non-poultry), leading to fatalities among their populations.
According to the statement, so far poultry birds in the country have been spared but work is underway to prevent its overspill from non-poultry birds.
It advises the population against touching birds that appear sick or dead for fear that infection from the comunicable disease could spread to humans.
“All poultry farmers are advised to heighten their biosecurity measures at their farms to minimise the risk of spreading the disease to our poultry. The government through its relevant ministries (agriculture, environment and health) and partners are very much concerned about this latest development and will do everything possible to control the outbreak at the wild bird level as well as prevent the spread to spill over to poultry,” it warns.