As a result, the health of consumers could be at risk because of their side effects. According to IPPMedia.com, there were reports in recent months that Thermotolerant Newcastle Disease Ingeham Strain 2(1-2) found in the Tanzania market is counterfeit.

The newspaper learnt about investigations by authorities about the fake chicken flu vaccine in different parts of the country from July to September this year.

The Tanzania Foods and Drugs Authority (TFDA), the Police and the Ministry of Livestock Development and Fisheries through the Tanzania Veterinary Laboratory Agency (TVLA) conducted the investigation.

They covered several regions namely Arusha, Coast, Dar es Salaam, Iringa, Mbeya Morogoro, Mwanza and Shinyanga. The report established the presence of high usage of fake TNDV Strain 1-2 in those areas.

TVLA Executive Director Professor Uswege Minga said various measures were taken like halting all production and distribution of all vaccine manufactured by TVI as well as those stored by pharmacists and other outlets .

He said they have decided to suspend Kibaha –based Tanzania Vaccine Institute from operations pending further notice from TFDA.

Professor Minga said other centers were directed to report any TNDV vaccines which were supplied by TVI so as to remove them as soon as possible from the market.

He said they asked TFDA to run market investigation to ensure that the vaccines are no longer on the shelves. “Investigations are up and running on this issue for further legal action against suspects,” he stated

According to Professor Minga, livestock breeders can have alternative vaccines for chicken flu as investigations are under way. They include TAD ND VAC LASOTA, AviPro ND LASOTA, Medivac ND LASOTA, Medivac ND-IB and Medivac ND Hitcher B1.

As a further measure to eliminate the fake products, the authorities would make changes in the vaccine label with high security marks that cannot be forged.

However, some chicken keepers have expressed a lack of trust in the regulation body, claiming that TVLA is incapable of inspecting products before they hit the market.

Speaking to The Guardian, a chicken keeper Pamela Owino (56) questioned the effectiveness of the foods and drugs control mechanisms in the country.

She queried: “How did fake vaccines enter the distribution system in the first place? Where was TFDA and how did fake vaccines reach the public veterinary centres if everything was in control?"