Commissioner Confirms Bird Flu Outbreak In Ebonyi

Ebonyi State Commis
sioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr Orji Uchenna, has confirmed the first case of Bird-flu outbreak in the state.
Uchenna said the virus was detected at the weekend in a poultry farm located at Uguachara area of Abakiliki following a massive death of the birds.
According to him, officials of the state veterinary services took a sample of the carcass to a research institute in Jos where it was confirmed that the birds died from the strains of the birds flu.
Consequently, he directed the veterinary department of the ministry in the state to isolate the farm, take inventory of all poultry and ancillary farms in the state while sustaining enlightenment on the influenza.
The Director of  the Veterinary Service and Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Ibiam Okoro  who led the commissioner to the farm, said the department has already mounted surveillance to contain the possible spread of the virus.
Okoro said that the strain detected in the farm is only transmissible to animal and warned poultry  farmers and the people of the state against the sale or consumption of sick or dead chicken.        The outbreak of the virus has also been confirmed in three farms in Jos and reports say it has killed 5,000 to 10,000 birds in Kano.  A total of 21,000 birds were depopulated in three farms reported to have been attacked by the disease.  And for the human health, the Nigerian populace are advised to maintain caution in their consumption of poultry produce.

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