1.6m Birds Killed As Bird Flu Hits Abuja, 19 States.

Avian Influenza, otherwise known as bird flu has hit 20 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Arc Sonny Echono said this on Wednesday during a meeting with stakeholders in Abuja.
He said ;

“The resurgence of Avian Influenza as at today has spread to 85 local government areas (LGAs) in 20 states and the FCT, affecting 491 farms and resulting in the depopulation of 1,597,191 birds.

“Since the 1st confirmed outbreak on the 5th of January, 2015 in a commercial farm in Kano and a live bird market (LBM) in Lagos State, we have put in place proactive strategies aimed at rapidly containing the spread of the poultry disease; these strategies include but are not limited to depopulation and decontamination of affected farm birds, movement restriction of poultry products, enforcement of biosecurity farms and payments of compensation.

“The initial strategies put in place had succeeded and   resulted in non-reporting of outbreaks nationwide for about eight weeks (May and June); the disease   thereafter has continued to spread mainly in the southern state s and the latest outbreaks were reported between July and September 2015 in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Enugu, Abia, Rivers and the FCT.”

According to Echono, claims for compensation by poultry farmers have already exceeded one billion naira. He said that so far, N380 million has been paid to 138 farmers, while N263 million is currently being disbursed to 103 farmers.

He blamed the current outbreak of Avian Influenza on "non-compliance with biosecurity in farms, limited awareness creation on the disease among poultry farmers, disregard for public policy on sitting of poultry farms and other enforcement protocols which are expected to be implemented by the State Veterinary Services."