International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 3 (9), pp. 067-074, September, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Poor biosecurity in live bird markets in Uganda: A potential risk for highly pathogenic avian influenza disease outbreak in poultry and spread to humans

Halid Kirunda^1*, Hannah Kibuuka^2†, Achilles Byaruhanga^3†, Edison Mworozi^4†, Josephine Bwogi^5†, Lukwago Luswa^6†, Millard Millard^2†, Fred Wabwire-Mangen⁷ and Denis K Byarugaba^8*

¹National Livestock Resources Research Institute,  P.O Box 96, Tororo, Uganda.

²Makerere University Walter Reed Project, P.O. Box 16524,  Kampala, Uganda.

³NatureUganda, The East Africa Natural History Society, P.O. Box 27034, Kampala, Uganda.

⁴Mulago National Referral Hospital, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7072,Kampala, Uganda.

⁵Uganda Virus Research Institute, Ministry of Health,P.O. Box 49, Entebbe, Uganda.

⁶Epidemiology and Surveillance Division,Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 7272, Kampala, Uganda.

⁷School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.

College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.

Accepted 2, June 2014

Abstract 

Live bird markets (LBMs) are essential for marketing of poultry, but can be a hub for the rapid spread of diseases including avian influenza (AI). We assessed the status of biosecurity in 108 LBMs in 37 districts of Uganda. In all LBMs, carcasses were disposed of in the open and birds were introduced in the markets without initial quarantine. A high proportion of markets lacked a dedicated site for unloading of birds (86.1%) and a programme for disinfection (99.1%), had dirty feed/water troughs (93.5%), were accessed by stray animals (97.2%), and had sick and healthy birds (96.3%) or different bird species (86.1%) sold together. Differences in practices occurred among geographical regions and market location. Birds were more likely to be slaughtered in the open in urban compared to rural LBMs (OR=14.6, 95% CI: 1.50 - 142), while selling of un-caged birds was less likely in central compared to western region (OR=0.2, 95% CI: 0.04 - 0.17). Different poultry species confined in the same cage were more likely to be sold in urban (OR=22, 95% CI: 1.14 - 435) compared to rural markets. We conclude that LBMs in Uganda are a potential risk for spread of AI to poultry and humans.

Key words: Biosecurity, live bird markets, avian influenza, environmental hygiene, management practices, segregation measures, traffic control measures.