3rd October, 2015
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Rivers State Government has confirmed that the state is among the 21 States in the country with reported cases of Avian Influenza, bird flu epidemic.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Otoyetoye Okorie, who confirmed existence of bird flu said that some poultry farms mostly affected are found in Obio-Akpor and Port Harcourt City local government areas of the state.
In effort to curtail the spread of the disease, which is usually transmitted from infected birds to man, Okorie said that the ministry has commenced aggressive enlightenment campaign among poultry farmers in the state, stakeholders and markets.
The government has also started shutting down illegal poultry markets and farms, while affected birds are destroyed and farms decontaminated.
The Permanent Secretary cautioned the members of the public to be extra-vigilant to observe farmers who would be wanting to sell off birds at a ridiculously giveaway price and report to the ministry officials for appropriate actions.
Okorie also advised consumers of poultry products to cook them very well before consumption as a precautionary measure to avoid contracting the disease.
Meanwhile, Dr. Nathaniel Bakura, Chairman, Rivers state branch, Veterinary Association of Nigeria, called for the arrest all stray dogs on the streets of Port Harcourt, the state capital to curtail the outbreak of rabies caused by dog bite.
He said that veterinary doctors are empowered by law to apprehend and kill any stray dog suspected to be exposed to rabies infection.