Delta State government has confirmed a recent outbreak of Avian Flu Influenza, otherwise known as bird flu, with about 164,173 birds reported dead across poultry farms in the state.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Julius Egbedi, while addressing newsmen in Asaba expressed that the government has swung into action to curtail spread of the disease which has since affected some poultry farms across the seven local government areas in the state.
“On June 22, we got a call from some poultry farms in Ughelli on birds dying in their numbers.
“We dispatched our team of veterinary experts to the farms and they collected samples which we sent to the Veterinary Institute in Gwon, Jos for analysis.
“However, when the result came out, it confirmed a case of the Avian Flu Influenza,” Egbedi said.
The commissioner noted that the affected farms located in Sapele, Udu, Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Oshimili South and Okpe LGAs have been disinfected by experts, while urging residents to remain calm.
“We want to assure the general public and all poultry farmers that government is on top of the situation. There is no need for panic.
“We equally want to use this medium to reach out to poultry farmers across the state to report to the ministry of they notice any form of bird deaths.
“The state government is alive to its responsibility and will do everything necessary to protect the poultry business which is an integral part of our agriculture economy,” he added.
The Avian Influenza, a highly contagious viral infection of birds, resurfaced in Nigeria in Januray 2021, according to reports by the Director of Veterinary and Pest Control Services in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Abuja.
It causes up to 100 per cent mortality in domestic chickens or turkeys.
The disease which is mainly found in birds can also occur in humans under certain circumstances but with a low risk of transmission.
The transmission occurs through direct or indirect contact between infected birds by inhalation of the infected droplets released through saliva, faeces, and nasal secretions from the birds.
