Bird Flu: Desk Officers To Disinfect Rural Markets

The Avian influenza control team of the Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with Local Government Desk Officers on Avian influenza (AI) will on Monday disinfect live bird markets in all the 23 LGAs in order to ensure that the state is free of AI virus.

Speaking at a one day training programme of Local Government Desk Officers on decentamination of live birds market in Rivers State, yesterday, the permanent secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Jokotade Adamu said the exercise became necessary because of the persistent threat of AI out break all over the world.

According to her, the exercise is part of an on-going natural programme that has become very necessary, as Christmas season is a period when most people come in contact with birds.

She also explained that there is also large movement of poultry from one region to the other and the convergence of birds from various sources in the poultry markets raises the risk level in the market, that is why it is pertinent for Desk Officers to disinfect market in a bid to check the trend of AI in the rural areas.

“Of recent we have received information of the outbreak of AI in wild birds in Ivory Coast, and the entire West Africa sub region has been placed on alert to immediately identify the diseases any where it spreads to”, the permanent secretary stressed.

The Director of the Department of Veterinary Services of the Ministry, Dr Allswell Emefuru told The Tide that the exercise which will commence on Monday will be flagged off at market days of the various LGAs at 8am before commencement of normal business in the market.

According to him, initially decontamination of markets was concentrated in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpo but now it will be community-driven activity to ensure that the state is free of AI

Emafuru advised live bird sellers and the general sellers to cooperate with the local government Desk Officers as they carry out their primary assignment.

He stated that the people should also report any case of unusual death of wild birds in their environment or any incident of uncommon behaviour of bird to the AI project of the Ministry of Agriculture so that the case will be investigated to avoid the spread of the virus

Meanwhile, Local Government Desk Officers were provided with disinfectants, sprayers and personal protection equipment to carry out the process.