RED ALERT:2,000 birds killed, as bird flu hits Lagos

AGAIN, Lagosians will have to be very careful in the consumption of poultry products such as chicken and eggs, following the sudden resurgence of Avian influenza, AI, commonly called bird flu, into the state.

This ugly development has led to the killing of over 2,000 birds last Friday, in a poultry farm in Badore, Ajah axis of the state.

According to the World Health Organisation, WHO, most avian influenza viruses do not infect humans, however some such as A(H5N1) and A(H7N9), cause serious infections in people.

Global public health concerns

They recently stated that the outbreaks of AI in poultries may raise global public health concerns due to their effect on poultry populations, their potential to cause serious disease in people, and their pandemic potential.

The body said majority of human cases of A(H5N1) and A(H7N9) infection have been associated with direct or indirect contact with infected live or dead poultry as there is no evidence that the disease can be spread to people through properly cooked food.

WHO said controlling the disease in animals was the first step in decreasing risks to humans.

AI viruses can sometimes spread to domestic poultry and cause large-scale outbreaks of serious disease. Some of these AI viruses have also been reported to cross the species barrier and cause disease or sub-clinical infections in humans and other mammals.

Against the backdrop of this resurgence, the State Government, who on Friday alerted residents on the resurgence of the virus said it had commenced intensive surveillance, which would focus on all poultry farms in the state in order to prevent its spread.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal, who disclosed this while briefing newsmen alongside his counterpart in Health, Dr. Jide Idris, said that the name of the poultry farm would not be disclosed for security reasons, adding that because of the outbreak of the flu, over 2,000 birds have been depopulated from the farm, while the entire farm had been quarantined.

Lawal stated that bird samples collected by the department and sent to the National Veterinary Research Institute in Vom, Plateau State, had unfortunately been found positive for the H5 strain of the Avian Influenza popularly known as bird flu.

He added that in order to contain the spread of the infection, the government had embarked on active Diseases Search by surveillance agents, Biosecurity Monitoring and Sensitisation in poultry farms and markets, disinfection of poultry markets, decontamination of affected farms and sensitisation of poultry farmers and traders on insurance policy issues.

No cause for alarm

Idris said there was no cause for alarm and advised Lagosians to embrace basic hygiene to prevent contracting the disease, saying that people should ensure that they cook their birds properly before eating and report cases of mortality in birds in any area to the government.

“During the last Christmas and New Year period, the Veterinary Department of the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives received a report of high mortalities of birds in poultry markets across the state,” Lawal said.

He added, “Samples collected from a poultry farm in Badore have also been confirmed positive and a Zoological park based in Victoria Garden City presently experiencing high mortality of wild birds in captivity is on the suspicion list and it is being investigated.

“To complement the above activities, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is collaborating with the State Ministry of Health, the Lagos State branch of the Poultry Association of Nigeria, National Agriculture Insurance Corporation (NAIC) and Lagos State Fowl Sellers Association.

“A team of eight technical staff, comprising of representatives of the Federal Livestock Department, National Quarantine Service and the National Veterinary Research Institute is currently in the state on disease assessment and surveillance

“Sensitisation of poultry farmers and fowl sellers is being vigorously embarked on by the Surveillance and Extension Agents deployed by the ministry to cover the entire state.

“Disinfection of all live bird markets in the state is already on going.

“All poultry farmers and fowl sellers are hereby enjoined to adhere strictly to biosecurity measures and report unusual incidence of high mortalities of birds. The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives and the Ministry of Health have deployed surveillance agents to the various parts of the state,” assurd Lawal.