The close proximity between people and animals and insufficient surveillance and disease control capability in eastern African countries create an ideal breeding ground for the virus,

Given that it is a highly contagious disease, we were sure it could spread from one region to another, either through wildlife or through trade and movements of products. So this happened and we are not surprised at all.

In a way we are not surprised, since we had expected a possible expansion of the disease through wildlife.

[In the wild, controlling the disease is even harder.] There is no possibility to stamp out outbreaks among wild birds, ... You don't want to kill wildlife and you can't kill 100 per cent anyway.

The countries urgently need international assistance to build up basic surveillance and control systems.

It has no disease control system. This virus can infect not only birds, but other animals too,