02-19-06,9:14am

JOHANNESBURG, 17 Feb 2006 (IRIN) - Zambia's avian flu technical team is hamstrung by a shortage of funds, according to a government official.

'We do not have sufficient funds to educate the population and conduct surveillances as much as we would like to,' said Dr Christina Chisembele, spokeswoman for the task force.

Chisembele, who is with the Department of Veterinary Livestock Development, was responding to reports that hundreds of villagers in southern Zambia had slaughtered their chickens and goats in the wake of false reports that deadly bird flu had reached the country.

'We have only picked up information from local newspapers that the false stories were spread in an area under Chieftain Chiawa, of the Goba people in lower Zambezi - but we have been unable to follow-up the reports because we do not have the funds,' she said. Rumours about livestock diseases are frequently spread in Zambia, 'which is why it is important to educate people', she added.

The task force has received pledges of financial support from donors, but has not yet received any funds, according to Chisemebele. The government's limited resources have been used to print pamphlets and organise a few workshops.

The arrival of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus strain in Nigeria has sparked concern over the levels of preparedness and capacity to deal with a potential outbreak throughout southern Africa.

The Zambian technical task force has conducted surveillance in the nesting areas of migratory birds such as white storks, that began arriving in October from Eastern Europe and Eastern Asia. 'None of these tested positive for the virus, which places the country at a very low risk at this stage,' said Chisembele.

Migratory birds are believed to be a potential vector for the infection of domestic and commercial poultry with the H5N1 virus.

The government has imposed restrictions on the import of all bird species, including poultry. 'But people do travel - we must be prepared,' added Chisembele.