Adequate Measures In Placed To Tackle Bird Flu -FG

Adequate Measures In Placed To Tackle Bird Flu -FG 

The federal government Wednesday assured Nigerians that it has put in placed adequate measures to tackle the recent incident of the Bird Flu (avian influenza) on some poultry farms in Nigeria. 

The government, which gave this assurance through the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina at a press conference in Abuja also disclosed that the recorded cases were due to the H5N1 virus.

According to the minister the federal government, state governments and other stakeholders are managing the outbreak with strong determination, purposefulness and aggressiveness and they will ensure that public safety is protected.

Below is the text read by the minister at the press conference:

MINISTERIAL PRESS BRIEFING ON AVIAN INFLUENZA IN NIGERIA

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, CON
Honorable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
January 21, 2015

I wish to formally inform the public of the incidence of Bird Flu (avian influenza) on some poultry farms in Nigeria. The initial case of Bird Flu was reported and confirmed on a commercial farm and in a live bird market in Kano and Lagos States respectively on January 8, 2015. While we quickly confirmed that the cases were due to H5N, we could not at the time determine the biotype. We have now confirmed that the cases were due to the H5N1 virus.

Although Bird Flu is a disease primarily of poultry, it also has the ability to affect humans if not properly handled within poultry populations.

We are taking all measures necessary to ensure that public safety is protected and that the poultry industry is not significantly affected by spread of the bird flu. I can assure you that Nigeria is managing the recent outbreak with strong determination, purposefulness and aggressiveness.

I have already directed nation-wide comprehensive surveillance, quarantine, depopulation and decontamination of all affected poultry farms and areas.  The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is working closely with State Governments, the Poultry Association of Nigeria, the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association and the Animal Science Association of Nigeria to put in place comprehensive measures to contain the spread of the Bird Flu. We have deployed all our veterinary staff all across the country.

We are not in a state of any epidemic. Five states have so far reported cases of the bird flu: Kano, Lagos, Ogun, Delta and Rivers States. To date, 15 commercial farms and 9 Live Bird Markets have been affected in the five states.  

As at today January 21, 2015, a total of 139,505 birds have been associated with bird flu exposures, with 22,173 (15%) mortality recorded.

The most affected State has been Kano state, where the initial case of the bird flu was found. A total of 103,445 birds have reportedly been exposed to the infection in Kano State, with 15,963 (15%) mortality reported. These cases were found in Gwale, Kumbotso, Tofa, Gaya and Ungogo local governments. 

In Lagos State, the total number of birds under close watch in Lagos State is 31,195 and 3,347 (11%) mortality has been reported. The three confirmed cases were from Somolu and Eti Osa local governments. All the farms have been  quarantined and decontaminated. Other locations in Ikorodu, Ojo and Lagos Mainland have already been quarantined, while awaiting confirmation.

In Ogun State, Sagamu has reported two locations with one positive case (Ifo) and another negative case (Sabo). Of the 1,030 birds currently under watch in the two locations, 163 (15%) have experienced mortality. Other states with positive cases reported are Rivers, Delta, Edo and Plateau with figures ranging between 200 and 1,550 mortalities. 

In all of these States, different levels of interventions, including depopulation, decontamination and quarantine are currently ongoing. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is spearheading a rapid response system in close collaboration with the State governments' ministries of agriculture. At the moment, we have been able to contain the disease in Kano and Lagos states by joint teams of Federal and States’ staff in these areas. The reported cases in Delta and Rivers States are being monitored. 

I wish to assure Nigerians that Nigeria will successfully control the bird flu outbreak. We have successfully controlled it in the past and have activated all the necessary protocols and measures to ensure successful control this time as well.

We have put in place a number of measures to contain the recent outbreaks, namely:

• Quarantine of infected premises and restriction of movement of poultry and poultry products into and out of areas around infected premises.

• Directors of Veterinary Services in all the States of the Federation  and FCT, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) and other stakeholders have been informed and advised to be on the alert with intensified bio-security measures to avert possible spread of the disease to other states.

• The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), Inter African Bureau for Animal Resource (AU-IBAR), Food and Agricultural Organization  of the United Nation (FAO) and other Development Partners have been notified in compliance with our statutory international obligations

• Restriction of movement of live birds in and out of the affected states

• Immediate reactivation of all Animal Health component of the Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP) on Bird flu for Nigeria.       

• Conduct of surveillance activities around infected areas to determine the level of spread of the disease.

• The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) and Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) are working out the possibility of extending insurance cover to poultry farmers.

Ladies and gentlemen, I wish to assure Nigerians that the recent reported cases of bird flu should not pose any real risk to humans. 

Research findings have confirmed that human infection with the H5N1 virus, although possible, remains a rare event. Direct contact with infected poultry, or surfaces and objects contaminated by their faeces, is presently considered the main route of human infection. Exposure could potentially occur during slaughter, de-feathering, butchering, and preparation of poultry for cooking. There is no evidence to suggest that the avian influenza virus can be transmitted through the consumption of poultry and poultry products, as long as standard precautions regarding food storage, handling and preparation are followed.

It is safe to eat poultry products. However, consumers should ensure that poultry is thoroughly cooked (juice runs clear and no visible pink meat). Internal temperatures for whole chicken should reach 85°C, while for chicken parts the temperature should reach 74°C and eggs should be cooked until the yolk is no longer runny.
Accordingly, I call for full cooperation of all stakeholders in the poultry industry so that together we can quickly control the incidences of bird flu and avoid any further spread.

I urge everyone to enhance hygienic practices (bio-security measures) which include, but not limited to, regular disinfection, proper processing and cooking of poultry and poultry products and timely reporting of deaths of poultry and other bird species to veterinary authorities. 

I also appeal to all the States and FCT to cooperate with my Ministry in containing the disease because of its public health and economic importance.

Putting any disease under control requires shared responsibilities and unwavering cooperation of all stakeholders. I wish to therefore ask for full cooperation of State governments in the following areas:

• Prompt reporting  of disease outbreaks to the Chief Veterinary Officers
• Implementation  of diseases containment  measures in the state
• Ensuring the quarantine of infected areas and premises
• Depopulation and decontamination of infected farms and Live Bird Markets
• Advocacy and creation of awareness of  the public on disease situations 
• Collection and transportation of samples to the central laboratory at National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI, Vom) for analysis
• Enforcement of restriction of movement of poultry and poultry products 
• Provision of logistics and essential equipment to the state veterinary services 
• Registration of poultry farms as provided by the ACT 10 of 1988
• Disease surveillance in the state

Poultry farmers are required to:

• Report all disease conditions to the Veterinary authorities 
• Patronize only registered Veterinary Doctors and qualified animal health service providers
• Enhance strict adherence to biosecurity measures  from the farm to the market 
• Ensure that marketers, transporters, visitors and service providers keep, observe and comply with bio-security measures at all times
• Register their farms in the office of the Director of Veterinary services in the State

There is no cause for alarm. The recent outbreak of the bird flu is well under control.

Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, CON
Honorable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
Federal Republic of Nigeria
January 21, 2015