Avian Influenza Disease ''Bird Flu'' Hits 18 States

                     Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina yesterday disclosed that 18 states in the country have Avian Influenza disease otherwise known as Bird Flu.

The minister while speaking at a two-day refresher training course organised for federal and state epidemiology officers on Avian Influenza (AI) prevention and containment in Ibadan, lamented that a total of 322 poultry farms have been affected.
According to him, status as at yesterday indicates that Kano has the highest number of 156, Pleateau 82, Bauchi 19 and Kaduna 14 farms.

He said in an effort to contain the current Avian Influenza resurgence in the country, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is partnering with the federal government by engaging over 160 participants in a training the trainers workshop and capacity building for relevant officers.
He commended the initiative and support from the USAID.
Represented by deputy director in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Ademola Majasan, Adesina disclosed that the resurgence of the disease affected the poultry industry at the point when the country was about to achieve national self-sufficiency in poultry and poultry products, with the possibility of exports to the ECOWAS sub-region.

“The last outbreak of the disease which occurred between February 2006 to July 2008 affected the poultry industry at the point when we were about to achieve national self-sufficiency in poultry and poultry products, with the possibility of exports to the ECOWAS sub-region.
“The outbreak affected poultry farms in 25 states and the FCT that led to depopulation of more than 1.2million birds, destruction of 118, 183 eggs and payment of the sum of N631 million as compensation.”

According to him, the strategy is to ensure the disease is effectively contained while not creating any unnecessary public panic.