DAR ES SALAAM, Feb. 11 (Xinhuanet) -- The East African Community (EAC) has gone on red alert for bird flu after the confirmation of the first case in Africa, according to reports reaching here on Saturday.

    Peter Kiguta, acting secretary-general of the three country economic integration bloc, said in Arusha where the EAC seats its secretariat that Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania had stepped up joint monitoring and sharing of information on possible signs of avian influenza in animals and humans.

    "The confirmation of avian influenza in poultry in Africa is a cause for great concern," said the acting secretary-general who added that the EAC had already requested for some technical and financial assistance from the World Health Organization.

    The EAC in January set up a joint surveillance team of wildlife experts, veterinarians and health officials to monitor migratory birds.

    According to wildlife experts, between three million and five million wild birds have already migrated to Tanzania alone from Asia and central Europe where they may have contracted the bird flu viruses. Enditem