Ogun Confirms Presence of Bird Flu in State

The Ogun State Government on Monday confirmed that some markets tested positive to the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus, known as Bird Flu.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Ronke Sokefun, said this while addressing journalists at her office in Abeokuta, but quickly added that government has put in place measures to contain the spread of the disease.

She also gave assurances to poultry farmers that their birds would be protected against the virus, adding that the ministry had re-activated the Emergency Preparedness Plan for the control and containment of the virus and procured necessary disinfectants.

Mr. Sokefun said surveillance and live bird market decontamination was initiated along border towns of the State.

She explained that Bird Flu is primarily a disease of poultry that causes a great economic loss to poultry, noting that it has the ability to affect human beings if not properly contained.

“I wish to inform you that our officers have been able to contain the disease at the markets and we are on the lookout for more of such outbreaks through the surveillance systems of the Veterinary Department of the Ministry. We are also working closely with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, National Veterinary Research Institute, Poultry Association of Nigeria and others,” Mr. Sokefun said.

The commissioner ascertained that consumption of poultry products is safe if properly cooked, urging poultry farmers to heighten bio-security measures to their farm and report high rate of mortality among their birds.

Speaking earlier, the Director of Veterinary Services, Dotun Sorunke, encouraged poultry farmers to register with the department and patronize registered Veterinary Doctors.

Mr. Sorunke advised members of the public, especially those with backyard poultry farms, to be observant and report any disease and conditions of their poultry.

He asked anyone who needs or wants more information to contact the Ministry through the following numbers: 08033892861, 08025195464, 08027370579, 07034500063.