Bird flu spreads to Ogun, Rivers, three other states

The Federal Government on Wednesday said the
number of states affected by bird flu ( avian
influenza) had increased from two to seven.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development,
Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, told a news conference in
Abuja that 140,390 birds had contracted the
disease.
He added that out of the affected birds, 22,573 (16
per cent) had died.
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development had on January 15, 2015 announced
that there had been unusual mortality in two
poultry farms and five live bird markets in Lagos
and Kano states.
The minister told journalists at the news
conference on Wednesday, “We are not in a state
of epidemic. Seven states have so far reported the
bird flu: Kano, Lagos, Ogun, Delta, Rivers, Edo and
Plateau states. To date, 21 commerical farms, nine
live bird markets and one private zoo have been
affected in the seven states.
“As of today, January 21, 2015, a total of 140,390
birds have been associated with bird flu
exposures, with 22, 573 (16 per cent) mortality
recorded.”
According to him, Kano State, where the initial
case was found, is the most affected.
“A total of 103,445 birds have reportedly been
exposed to the infection in Kano State, with 15,
963 (15 per cent) mortality reported,” the minister
stated.
He said that the cases were found in Gwale,
Kumbotso, Tofa, Gaya and Ungogo Local
Government Areas in the state.
Adesina said that in Lagos State, the total number
of birds under watch was 31,195, with 3,347 (11
per cent) mortality.
He further said that three confirmed cases were in
Somolu and Eti-Osa in Lagos, adding that all the
farms in the two LGAs had been quarantined.
The minister stated that other locations in Ikorodu,
Ojo, Lagos Mainland had also been quarantined.
According to him, in Ogun State, two locations are
under watch, with one case positive and another
negative.
“Of the 1,030 birds currently under watch in the
two locations, 163 (15 per cent) experienced
mortality,” he added.
Adesina said that positive cases had also been
reported in Rivers, Delta, Edo and Plateau with
deaths ranging from 200 to 1,550.
The minister said that the affected states and
Federal Government had embarked on various
interventions, including depopulation,
decontamination and quarantine of farms.
Adesina stated that the joint team of the federal
and state governments had been able to contain
the disease in Kano and Lagos states.
He said that reported cases in Delta and Rivers
were being monitored, adding that Nigeria would
successfully control the disease.
The minister said that directors of veterinary
services in all the 36 states and the Federal Capital
Territory had been told to be on the alert and to
intensify bio-security measures to avert possible
spread to other states.
According to him, the World Organisation for
Animal Health; Inter-African Bureau for Animal
Resource; and the Food and Agricultural
Organisation have been notified.
Other measures, he said, were “Restriction of
movement of live birds in and out of the affected
states;
“Immediate reactivation of all animal health
components of the emergency preparedness plan
on bird flu in Nigeria;
“And conduct of surveillance activities around
infected areas to determine the level of spread of
the disease.”
He disclosed that the Poultry Association of Nigeria
and the Agricultural Insurance Corporation were
working out the possibility of extending insurance
cover to poultry farmers.
The minister assured Nigerians that the recent
reported cases of bird flu would not pose any risk
to human beings.
“Research findings have confirmed that human
infection with H5N1 virus, although possible,
remains a rare event,” he said.
According to him, direct contact with infected
poultry, surfaces and objects contaminated by their
faeces are the main routes of human infection.
He also explained that exposure could occur during
slaughtering, de-feathering and preparation of
poultry for cooking.
The minister stated, “There is no evidence to
suggest that avian influenza virus can be
transmitted through the consumption of poultry
and poultry products as long as standard
precautions regarding food storage handling and
preparations are followed.
“It is safe to eat poultry. However, consumers
should ensure that poultry is thoroughly cooked
(juice runs clear and no visible pink meat).’’
Adesina said that when cooking, internal
temperatures for the whole chicken should reach
85 degree centigrade, for chicken parts it should
be 74 degree centigrade.
Pleading for the support of state governments, he
called for prompt reporting of disease outbreak to
the chief veterinary officers.
He also said that there should be implementation
of disease containment measures in states.
Adesina said states should cooperate with the
Federal Government in enforcing restriction of
movement of poultry and poultry products;
provision of logistics and essential equipment to
the state veterinary services as well as registration
of poultry farms as provided by the ACT 10 of
1988.
He advised poultry farmers to report all disease
conditions to the veterinary authorities; patronise
only registered veterinary doctors and adhere to
bio-security measures.
The minister also urged them to ensure marketers,
transporters, visitors and service providers comply
with bio-security measures.
The Federal Government was able to eliminate the
bird flu from the country in 2006, when it was first
discovered at Sambawa farms, Kaduna State, in
January of that year.