rate among meat chickens which are commonly referred to as broilers at a local farm. It therefore urged farmers to be alert and to notify the authorities immediately if the mortality rate among their broilers becomes unusually high. The ministry explained that many broilers die during this period of the year as a result of the high temperatures. A higher mortality rate among broilers therefore does not automatically mean that it has been triggered by an outbreak. Several factors such as heat stress could be responsible for the high number of deaths among meat chickens. The ministry also warned that poultry diseases could emerge under stressful circumstances. It is also possible that pathogens could enter a poultry farm undetected. After farmers have notified the authorities of an unusually high number of deaths among their chickens, an investigation can be launched to determine the cause and measures could be taken if that is deemed necessary. The general number that poultry farmers can dial to report any irregularities is 479112 extension 2101.