The Tanzanian government has called on poultry farmers tolearn about avian influenza and adopt basic hygiene practices to protectagainst it.

Dr.Mmeta Yongolo is Tanzania's national coordinator for avian influenza. He toldVOA English to Africa reporter Douglas Mpuga the government has done surveys atdifferent poultry sites and in livestock and wild birds and has found nothingof concern.

Dr.Yongolo said the government is conducting an awareness campaign but added, "Wehave not yet assessed the impact of this campaign. We intend to involve thepoultry farmers, specifically those with 'backyard chickens.'"

Hesaid people with 'backyard chickens' are targeted because more than half ofTanzania's 50 million chickens are kept in people's back yards. "This is thegroup we have concentrated on through our district officials. We have targetedespecially districts that we think are more at risk."

Explainingthe ban on importing poultry products into Tanzania, Dr. Yongolo said it wasnever total but targets only those countries thought to present a potentialrisk to Tanzania. He said the ban does not extend to Tanzania's neighbors. "Ourborders (East Africa) are porous and products come in and go out without detection."

Hesaid the East African Community is coordinating control and detection effortsin the region. "We have had several meetings, and there is the (Avian Flu) EastAfrican Community Taskforce, of which I am a member."

Dr.Yongolo expressed appreciation to donors that have helped Tanzania in the fightagainst avian flu, especially in the areas of detection and testing.

Hesingled out United States Agency for International Development (USAID), whichhe said has helped train Tanzanians in diagnosis.

Hesaid the U.S. Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) has helpedtrain medical personnel, and the University of Minnesota has partnered with theTanzanian Ministry of Health in surveying and screening birds.

Yongolosaid other UN agencies, such as the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), have also been helpful. "FAO havebeen helping in diagnosis and UNICEF has been supporting a lot on publicawareness. This (awareness campaign) has been going for almost a year andhalf."

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