LUSAKA, Feb. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- The Zambian government should not rush to the utilization of vaccine on the country's poultry as no bird flu cases have been reported so far, a veterinary expert saidhere Thursday.

    "There are not any cases of bird flu in Zambia so far. That means there is no need now to import vaccine from other countries and to inoculate vaccine to the poultry," Christina Chisembele with the Department of Veterinary and Livestock Development told Xinhua in an interview, noting that the use of vaccine is still indebate as it consists of virus too.

    Chisembele however pointed out that there is need for the government to get fully prepared in case the deadly avian influenza erupts.

    The issue of bird flu has again become a focus for the southernAfrican country's poultry farmers after Africa's first outbreak inNigeria weeks ago and the quick spread to a few other countries like Egypt and Zimbabwe.

    Zambia is so far spared by the disease that have caused great losses and panic in quite a few countries.

    Addressing a meeting organized by the Poultry Association of Zambia (PAZ) in Lusaka, Chisembele said the country has a limited capacity to prevent and, in case of eruption of bird flu, to combat against the diseases due to the lack of technology and money.

    She thus urged poultry farmers in the country to take precautionary measures as best as they can to reduce the chance ofbeing caught by the diseases.

    PAZ has, in response, produced a batch of brochures on bird flufor free distribution to the country's farmers in a bid to sensitize them on the topic.

    And the Zambian government has earlier in the week set aside about 4.85 million U.S. dollars to contain any possible outbreak of bird flu. Enditem