Consumer awareness regarding the status of the free Tunis poultry herd from avian influenza
- - Tunisia is free from avian influenza. The country is admitted free of the disease by international bodies (OIE and WHO).
- - The disease is an animal health problem, it can be transmitted mainly from migratory birds to domestic birds not kept in buildings, and by the trade. No cases have been registered so far in Tunisia after more than 60000 samples analysed during the last 12 months.
- - Since 1999, following the outbreak of avian influenza in Italy veterinary authorities of our country have established a plan of epidemiological surveillance of the entire poultry industry. The plan has been strengthened recently. Another plan has been put in place for epidemiological surveillance of migratory birds.
- - The emergence of avian influenza in south east Asia, Europe and Africa does not mean the presence of the disease in Tunisia.
- - In 2005, following the instructions of the President of the Republic of Tunisia, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, a national commission of vigilance for avian influenza has been set up to monitor the news related to avian influenza nationally & Internationally.
- - An emergency response plan on avian influenza has been established in Tunisia to face the risk of an outbreak of disease in our country.
- - Therefore poultry products available on the Tunisian market can under no circumstances be contaminated by the avian influenza virus & do not constitute a risk to the consumer.
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