Alheri Ibrahim-Sanchi, the director of veterinary services in the Kebbi Ministry of Animal Husbandry, says the state government has stepped up efforts to mitigate the spread of avian influenza (bird flu) that reared its ugly head.

He disclosed this while addressing journalists shortly after fumigating a farm infected with the disease in Amanawa village, Kalgo, outskirts of Birnin Kebbi on Sunday.

The disease has so far killed 14 peacocks in the affected facility. Mr Ibrahim-Sanchi said the essence of the exercise was to curtail the spread.

The fumigation was carried out by a team of professionals under “One Health”, comprising experts from ministries of animal husbandry, health, environment, information, and principal partners.

He explained that some peacocks were reported to have been ill, and the pattern of mortality became worrisome, “so we send a team of veterinary doctors for preliminary investigation.

“Upon investigation, we found it necessary to take samples sent to the Veterinary Diagnostic Reference Laboratory in Jos.

“When those samples were analysed, unfortunately for us, they returned positive for ‘Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1)’, so, this is what necessitated this exercise, to first of all come to the scene where these birds were resident and do the needful.”

The director said the main task was to ensure that the incident did not go beyond the affected facility, assuring that the team would go ahead and take active surveillance, “which is a pattern of seeking other likely cases that may be occurring in our state.”

Mr Ibrahim-Sanchi appealed to poultry owners to remain calm but be vigilant and intensify bio-security, adding that “it is a disease that can cause high economic loss for poultry owners.”

He advised poultry farmers to share information with their colleagues and minimise the number of people visiting the poultry.

Mr Ibrahim-Sanchi added that the ministry, in collaboration with sister ministries and agencies, was trying to sensitise the public to the disease.

Also, in an interview, the director of public health at Kebbi Ministry of Health, Abubakar Bagudu-Muhammad, confirmed that the disease had the potency to affect humans, adding that “it is also pathogenic, meaning it can be transmitted from one person to another.”

Mr Bagudu-Muhammad charged veterinary zonal officers, local government disease surveillance and notification under health, zonal officers of the Ministry of Environment and focal persons at the ward and community levels to be vigilant and put more attention on the border axis. 

(NAN)