LUSAKA, March 7 (Xinhuanet) -- Zambia faces high bird flu risk because the country lies along the main path for migratory birds, Business Post quoted veterinary experts Tuesday as warning.

    The experts warned that the threat should not be downplayed and urged the authorities to take mitigation measures now that the deadly virus has reached Africa.

    University of Zambia veterinary lecturer Bernard Hang'ombe said there is need for enhancing awareness of the disease, particularly among rural communities.

    If good measures are put in place, the catastrophic stage of bird flu could be avoided should Zambia be hit, said the lecturer.

    He said the detection of avian influenza does not require a huge amount of money and that the university has polymerase chain reaction equipment, which is able to detect the virus with 90 to 95 percent accuracy.

    Bird flu is feared to pose more serious threat for Africa than for other regions in the world as the continent has poor health infrastructures. Enditem