Federal Government Takes Steps to Contain Bird Flu Outbreak.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina

The Federal Government has said that  it  quarantined some poultry facilities in Lagos and Kano states following reports of unusual high mortality associated with the deadly bird flu.

The government also promised that the scourge would be contained, based on past experiences in handling previous outbreaks.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina confirmed these in a press statement.

"We wish to assure the public that given our experiences in handling previous outbreaks and with your full cooperation in the implementation of containment measures, we are determined to contain this disease again within a short time," he said.

According to the statement, the ministry has taken the following measures in the affected sites to contain the reported outbreaks;

"Quarantine of infected premises and restriction of movement of poultry and poultry products into and out of areas around infected premises.

"Immediate reactivation of all Animal Health component of the Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP) on Bird flu for Nigeria. Conduct of surveillance activities around infected areas to determine the level of spread of the disease.The minister said samples forwarded to the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom tested positive for H5 Strain of Avian Influenza virus and confirmatory samples have been sent to the International Reference Laboratory in Padova, Italy for further characterization.

He also directed all State Directors of Veterinary Services,   FCT, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) and other stakeholders to be invoke bio-security measures, so as to avert possible spread of the disease to other states."All State Directors of Veterinary Services and FCT, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) and other stakeholders have been informed and advised to be on alert with intensified bio-security measures to avert possible spread of the disease to other states."

The government however urged stakeholders in the poultry industry to maintain hygiene and report strange observations to vertinary authorities.
Adesina added that the World Organisation For Animal Health (OIE) and Inter African Bureau For Animal Resource (AU-IBAR) and Development Partners have been appropriately notified in compliance with our statutory international obligation.

"All stakeholders in the poultry industry are urged to enhance hygienic practices (bio-security measures) which include but not limited to regular disinfection, proper disposal of dead carcasses and poultry products and timely reporting of mortalities in poultry and other bird species to veterinary authorities."

THISDAY