A Zanzibari official saysthe island's dependence on imported poultry products could affect its tourismindustry. Dr. Kassim Gharib Juma is Zanzibar's director of veterinary services.He told VOA English to Africa reporter Douglas Mpuga that in 2005 the fear ofan outbreak of avian influenza led to a ban of importation of poultry products.

Theban has since been partially lifted for poultry from selected countries, butthe fear of an outbreak remains. Dr. Kassim said there is no avian influenza inZanzibar but its presence "in other countries has affected our import ofpoultry because most of the tourist hotels here depend on imported poultry.That has drastically affected the menu of the hotels as far as poultry productsare concerned."

Somepeople keep chickens and other domestic birds in their backyards, a practiceDr. Kassim said could be a problem. He said it could be "a source of infectionto humans because 80 percent of the households here keep 'backyard chickens.'[The chickens] are so close to people that if they get infected you mightexpect that the infection could come to the household as well."

Hesaid the threat of avian flu in Zanzibar is made worse by people smugglingpoultry products into the country. "But also," he added, "Zanzibar lies on thepath of migratory birds from East Asia. So we are at risk because of that. Thenthere is the other risk of getting it because our neighbors Sudan and Djiboutihave had bird flu cases, and we are very close."

ButDr. Kassim is optimistic that an outbreak of avian flu can be averted becauseof the vigorous awareness campaign on the island. "People are very much aware(of the avian flu threat). We have conducted a campaign, giving seminars topeople in the poultry industry, farmers, our veterinary and medical staff,local authorities and the general public."

SinceZanzibar partially removed the restriction on the importation of poultryproducts, demand for them has been increasing, especially from the tourismindustry.

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