The Delta Government has confirmed a fresh outbreak of Avian Influenza or bird flu in farms across seven local government areas of the State.
Delta Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Julius Egbedi who spoke in Asaba, said an estimated population of 164,473 birds has died from Avian Flu.
Egbedi said the affected farms were located in Udu, Oshimili South, Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Okpe and Sapele LGAs.
According to him, all samples from the reported farms were sent to the National Veterinary Institute Jos and all were confirmed to be the H5N1 strain of the Avian Influenza.
He said that the State Government has disinfected the affected farms and forbade the farmers from operating in their farms for the next three months, adding that efforts were underway to rescue the situation with collaboration from all the LGA chairmen.
He said: “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.
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“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.”
Egbedi advised farmers in the State to insure their farms to cushion the burden from such outbreaks or other natural disasters, even as he urged farmers to immediately report suspected cases to the ministry for timely intervention.
Delta Information Commissioner Charles Aniagwu said that the state government will assist affected farms to deal with the huge loss in investment.
‘He said: ‘’The State Government will meet them halfway because we believe that their actions have helped us to mop unemployment by creating jobs for our people. The fact that the government is making efforts to curtail spread by disinfecting farms means that we are already intervening and taking actions
“We are not only sympathizing with the affected farmers but we are also assuring them that, as a government, we will take those steps that will ensure that we are able to sustain poultry and the agricultural sector in the State’’.
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