The Gambian Ministry of Agriculture has imposed a ban on live poultry birds and poultry products from Senegal following the recent outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly called bird flu type H5N1 in the neighbouring country.

“The ultimate objective of this message is protecting human lives and enhancing food security being a clear indication of the commitment of The Government of The Gambia to protect its citizens and their livelihoods,” the ministry said in a statement.

According to the ministry, the products being banned include live poultry birds of all ages, chicken meat, and egg from Senegal and other countries that are affected by the outbreak.

“This ban will be effective until such time when the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the Senegalese authorities confirm that the outbreak is completely contained, and new cases of the disease have not occurred in Senegal,” the statement said.

Nonetheless, the government of Gambia “urges citizens to abide by the ban since Bird Flu is a highly contagious viral disease with a significant zoonotic risk, a major global public health concern and potential pandemic similar to Covid-19 or even worse”.

The outbreak in Senegal, which occurred in the Thies region east of the capital Dakar, has killed 58,000 birds in the 100,000-strong flock, with the remaining animals culled, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) said on Thursday, citing a report from Senegal’s veterinary services.

H5N1 – a type of influenza virus – causes a highly infectious, severe respiratory disease in birds called avian influenza (or “bird flu”). Humans can occasionally contract H5N1 avian influenza but transmission from an infected person to another is difficult. When people do become infected, the mortality rate is about 60 percent, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Infection in people is mostly associated with close contact with infected live or dead birds, or H5N1-contaminated environments.