(Ecofin Agency) - The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reported the presence of highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza in the northeastern province of Ituri. This was revealed by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

According to the agency quoting a report from the Congolese Ministry of Agriculture, the zoonosis has killed more than 12,000 ducks and chickens in three villages bordering Uganda with ducks being the most affected.

Although the exact origin and strain of the pandemic is yet to be specified, Reuters, still referring to the document, reported the presence of the H5N8 type of the virus in Uganda. Imports of poultry and poultry products will thus be tightly monitored.

It should be recalled that Uganda, last January, was hit by the epidemic after an outbreak in Middle East and Europe in 2016. In Europe, it led to the slaughter of 1.5 million poultry animals.

Espoir Olodo