Bird Flu Alert!

The federal government has issued a red alert on possible outbreak of Bird Flu in some parts of the country. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina confirmed these in a press statement made available to newsmen in Abuja said government had  quarantined some poultry facilities in Lagos and Kano states following reports of unusual high mortality associated with the deadly bird flu.

He said "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".

"All stakeholders in the poultry industry are urged to enhance hygienic practices (bio-security measures) which include but not limited to regular disinfection, proper disposal of dead carcasses and poultry products and timely reporting of mortalities in poultry and other bird species to veterinary authorities."

The government also promised that the scourge would be contained, based on past experiences in handling previous outbreaks.