Stakeholders advocate for Avian Influenza eradication

Stakeholders at the recently held one day sensitization workshop titled “Bird Flu: how prepared are you” organized by the College of Agriculture and Animal Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Mando Kaduna State have called for eradication of the disease which they described as a killer virus to chickens saying the same measure applied to expunge Ebola must be used to totally eradicate it in Nigeria.

It was observed that Avian Influenza can also negatively affect human’s health based on contact with affected chickens through “touching infected birds, de feathering infected birds, touching secretion from infected birds ( saliva or fluids from infected birds), been in contact with the feces of infected birds, inhaling dry feces, dust from infected birds, preparing poultry for cooking, if birds was infected, which also includes the household setting, slaughtering or butchering infected poultry, market where live birds are sold, if bird has infection, those who handle them also have the risk of becoming ill”

Food Farm News speaking at the workshop with the Provost of the College of Agriculture and Animal Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Mando Kaduna State, Dr. Balarabe Morgaji Jahum said the purpose of the workshop was to sensitize farmers, veterinary and other health workers about taking proactive steps to prevent the occurrence of bird flu in the country as the state has recently experienced an outbreak of the virus adding that all hands must be on deck to ensure its prevention and eradication “

 He advised that all stakeholders in the sector must work as a team to ensure the termination of the zoonic disease but also pointed there are records of deaths occasioned through the disease thereby cautioned against consumption of any affected birds.

Professor Audu of the department of veterinary medicine at the ABU, Zaria stated that government intervention is very important in the curbing of the disease thereby commended effort being made so far saying “government at all levels have given much training to professionals and quarantine officers. The government is doing its best, having assisted in upgrading some life bird market, towards ensuring that birds are sold in a very wholesome manner for food safety” 

 Food Farm News checks from the avian influenza desk officer, Dr. Francis Kambai confirmed that an approximation of 7,000 to 8,000 birds have been stamped out in Kaduna state while markets have been disinfected adding that “measures are put in place to contend the spread of this disease in the state and thereby urged every Nigerian to buy their birds from the life bird market where processed birds are sold for take home and cook”