Delta confirms fresh outbreak of Avian Influenza

Delta State Government on Wednesday confirmed a fresh outbreak of avian influenza, also known as bird flu with an estimated population of 164,473 birds so far affected in farms across seven local government areas of the state.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Julius Egbedi, disclosed this in a press conference jointly chaired by the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, on Wednesday in Asaba.

Egbedi disclosed that the affected farms were located in Udu, Oshimili South, Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Okpe and Sapele local government areas, adding that samples from the reported farms had been sent to the National Veterinary Institute, Jos, and all were confirmed to be the H5N1 strain of avian influenza.

He explained that the state government, through its Department of Veterinary Services, had disinfected the affected farms and had also forbidden the operation of poultry farms for the next three months, stressing that more efforts were underway to contain the situation with collaboration from all the Local Government Area chairmen.

“From what we have discovered, wild birds are the primary hosts of avian influenza. We suspect that these wild birds may have gotten in contact with some birds in the poultry and that may have been the genesis of the outbreak.

“We are using this medium to enlighten our poultry farmers across the state to take all necessary measures in protecting their farms. They should not bring in birds which they suspect to have been infected or allow people from infected farms into their farms,’’ Commissioner for Agriculture said.

Consequently, Egbedi advised farmers in the state to insure their farms to cushion the burden from such outbreaks or other natural disasters, while urging the farmers to immediately report suspected cases to the Ministry for timely intervention.