Veterinarian Allays Fears On Avian Influenza

The Director, Veterinary
and Livestock, Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Allswell Emejuru has called on consumers of poultry in the state not to panic following the reported outbreak of Avian Influenza also known as birds flu in the state.
Emejuru who spoke to our Correspondent on Monday in a telephone interview said people should go ahead and consume healthy poultry products.
He said there was no problem with healthy poultry products adding that people should avoid sick birds.
On how one identifies sick birds he said such birds could be seen lying down and not active just as everyone knows even in our villages and towns.
Emejuru who is also the Head, Veterinary Department of the Ministry said there was no cause for alarm on the process of cooking or preparing poultry products for consumption.
“The way you cook your normal animal products is applicable to the preparation of poultry products.
He said there was no special cooking for poultry products so long as the bird is healthy.
“You can cook it and consume, no problem”, he said.
On the fear among people due to the reported case of the bird flu he said there was no need to fear so long as the bird is fit and healthy.
However, he advised that any observation to the contrary should be reported to the Ministry of Agriculture especially the veterinary department for advice and action.
He further called on poultry farmers and owners in the state to report any suspected cases to the Ministry for prompt attention.
It could be recalled that the Rivers State Ministry of agriculture two weeks ago reported the outbreak of bird flu in the state even as it announced measures already put in place to check the score.