FG deploys experts to assess poultry farms for bird flu

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January 30, 2017 2:50 PM

The Director of Veterinary Services in the state's Ministry of Agriculture disclosed this in Kano on Monday.

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Some experts from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Jos, have visited Kano State to assess poultry farms affected by the recent outbreak of bird flu.

Dr Shehu Bawa, Director, Veterinary Services in the state`s Ministry of Agriculture, disclosed this in Kano on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said that the federal government sent down the experts after the discovery of a new virus of Avian Influenza ‘H5N8,’when the disease resurfaced in the state on Dec. 15, 2016.

Bawa said during the assessment, the team toured some affected poultry farms in addition to taking samples from live bird markets in Kano metropolis.

He said the team which had since returned to Abuja had discovered one of the samples to be positive.

According to him, the team had advised the state government to increase surveillance of live bird markets in the state.

He commended the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh for sending a team to assess the situation.

“During the visit, the team had also advised the state government on the need to intensify surveillance of live bird markets as a means of checking the spread of the disease."

“On our part, we will continue with the disinfection activities in order to prevent further spread of the disease,” Bawa said.

He called on farm owners to also take all necessary measures to minimise the disease`s entry into their farms.

“Our advice to farmers is that they should practice bio-security effectively so as to ensure adequate protection of their farms,” he added.

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