The Ugandan government is to launch a massive awareness campaign as the deadly H5N1 avian influenza has reached Ethiopia, according to an official from the Ministry of Agriculture.

Dr. Nicholas Kauta, commissioner for livestock health and entomology in the ministry was quoted by The New Vision newspaper as saying on Thursday that a campaign to involve the media and door-to-door campaigns in intended to sensitize the public about the bird flu.

Kauta said the move is to complement the ban on poultry imports.

"We lack capacity to handle an outbreak, but we are preparing for a massive campaign similar to that of measles and HIV/AIDS, which will be multimedia. We urged the public to report to the police and other authorities any suspicious bird deaths," Kauta said.

He said the government was looking for 30 million U.S. dollars for the campaign.

He said the government and donors were working out an emergency fund to pay farmers for the birds they lose if any outbreak in the east African country.

Source: Xinhua