TheCable

There has been an “unusual high mortality” in two poultry farms and live bird markets in Kano and Lagos states, the federal ministry of agriculture and rural development announced on Thursday.

It made the announcement after samples forwarded to the National Veterinary Research Institute tested positive for H5 strain of Avian Influenza Virus, otherwise known as bird flu.

But it was still awaiting the results of confirmatory samples sent to the International Reference Laboratory in Padova, Italy, for further characterisation.

The ministry said it had taken some measures to contain the outbreaks in the affected sites, such as quarantining the infected premises and placing restriction of movement of poultry and poultry products into and out of areas around infected premises.

“All state directors of veterinary services and the Federal Capital Territory, Poultry Association of Nigeria and other stakeholders have been informed and advised to be on alert with intensified bio-security measures to avert possible spread of the disease to other states,” it said.

“The World Organisation for Animal Health and Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resource and development partners have been appropriately notified in compliance with our statutory international obligations.

“We have ensured immediate reactivation of all animal health component of the Emergency Preparedness Plan on bird flu for Nigeria, while the conduct of surveillance activities around infected areas to determine the level of spread of the disease is being undertaken.”

FMARD surged all stakeholders in the poultry industry to enhance hygienic practices (bio-security measures) such as regular disinfection, proper disposal of dead carcasses and poultry products and timely reporting of mortalities in poultry and other bird species to veterinary authorities.

“We wish to assure the public that, given our experiences in handling previous outbreaks and with your full cooperation in the implementation of containment measures, we are determined to contain this disease again within a short time,” it said, promising to keep the public informed as events unfold.

In 2006, Nigeria became the first African country to record the deadly H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus in an outbreak that began from a farm in Jaji, a village in the northern Kaduna state.