DAR ES SALAAM, Feb. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- The lack of special funds may render the fight against bird flu very difficult in Tanzania, one senior government official has warned.

    Gilbert Mliga, acting chief medical officer of the Health and Social Welfare Ministry, told local media that it would be most difficult to combat bird flu because there are no funds to import drugs.

    "Even the vaccination cost is unaffordable," said the chief health official while responding to the confirmation of the first case of bird flu in Africa.

    "We are not worried about the technical capacity," added the official, "Our problem is the lack of funds."

    Mliga advised local people to avoid contact with sick fowls and to report to authorities immediately any case that involves massive fowl deaths.

    Tanzania has so far put in place two special task forces: the national multi-sectoral task group and the national multi-sectoral technical group.

    Both are in charge of monitoring the situation while soliciting necessary funds.

    Public health authorities are preparing to set up an isolation center in Dar es Salaam as a quarantine for patients suffering from communicable diseases. Enditem