Bird Flu Hits Rivers …RSG Confirms Outbreak In PH

The Rivers State Government has confirmed an outbreak of Avian Influenza, commonly known as Bird Flu in a poultry farm in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
Commissioner for Agriculture, Emmanuel Chindah, who briefed newsmen in his office in Port Harcourt, also said that the affected farm has been quarantined.
Chindah said that apart from quarantining the affected farm, the number of birds in the farm have been depopulated, while the premises of the farm have decontaminated.
According to him, “All birds close to the farm which show signs of avian influenza infection will be stamped out according to the standard operating procedure for the control of the disease”.
He further said that, officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, Rivers State, have been placed on alert, and requested to maintain surveillance on the livestock they attend to, especially the poultry farms.
The commissioner, who urged poultry farmers and sellers of live birds at the market to be calm, also enjoined them to report any unusual mortality to veterinary officials as the Rivers State Government was determined to protect their businesses.
“The members of the public need to be aware of the public health implication of avian influenza.
“They should keep away from sick birds. They should, however, note that the consumption of well-cooked poultry bird or eggs will not cause them any harm”, he said.
He assured that the state government would use the experience gathered during the 2006 out break to ensure that this present one is also contained.
It would be recalled that, the Federal Government had, last week, announced the outbreak of the disease in a poultry farm in Kano and another outbreak in alive bird market in Lagos.

PDP Presidential candidate, Dr Goodluck Jonathan (left) and other party chieftains at a campaign rally in Gusau, Zamfara State, yesterday.