Bird Flu: Bauchi State Govt. Bans Movement Of Poultry, Poultry Products Into State

The Bauchi State Government has announced the ban on movement of poultry and poultry products into the state from other states battling to contain the outbreak of Avian Influenza, also known as “Bird Flu”.

The Desk Officer, State Avian Influenza Control Programme, Ibrahim Bello, announced the ban on Friday in Bauchi.

The Federal Government had confirmed the outbreak of Bird Flue in 11 states of the federation.

“The Ministry (for Animal Resources and Nomadic Resettlement) has banned the movement of poultry especially from these three states that have recorded outbreaks.

“We are now making efforts to reactivate our control posts and inspection points across the major highways in and out of the state.

“The ministry is trying now to go round to sensitise the chicken sellers in their various markets and to go out with pamphlets to distribute to the general public just to create awareness”.

Mr. Bello said although the state had not recorded any reported case of Bird Flu, the ministry had put in place some measures in case of any eventuality.

He said that the ministry was now trying to resuscitate the State Technical Committee on Bird Flu and the State Rapid Response Team in anticipation of possible outbreak.

Mr. Bello further stated that the veterinary officers in all the 20 local government areas of the state have also been placed on standby.

“We had stakeholders meeting with them and we informed them of the situation in the country as far as Bird Flu is concerned and we tried to update them on movement and control of poultry and poultry products within their domains.

“We also told farmers on the need to improve sanitation and security on their farms so that they don’t allow infections get into their farms.

“And we are trying to sensitise bird vendors and people that roast chickens by the road sides, the restaurateurs preparing pepper soap for the public to make sure that they handle poultry and poultry products with caution”.

He urged farmers in the state to keep new birds away from their farms pending the time the scourge will be curbed and urged consumers to avoid sick birds.

Not less than 75 farmers were affected while over 350,000 chickens were destroyed between 2006 and 2008 during the last outbreak of the disease in the state.

by Greenstarnetwork admin..