The Kebbi State government, through the Ministry of Animal Husbandry, has announced the outbreak of avian influenza (also known as bird flu) in the state, assuring that strategic efforts were being made to contain the spread.
The Director of Veterinary Services, Dr. Alheri Ibrahim-Sanchi, shared the information after the fumigation of an affected farm in Amanawa village, Kalgo, on the outskirts of Birnin Kebbi at the weekend.
Update on the outbreak reveals that 14 peacocks have succumbed to the disease in the affected facility as the fumigation process was executed by a collaborative team of professionals operating under the “One Health” initiative, consisting of experts from ministries of Animal Husbandry, Health, Environment, Information and Principal Partners.
Dr. Ibrahim-Sanchi clarified that upon noticing the illness among the peacocks, a team of veterinary doctors conducted preliminary investigations, leading to the collection of samples sent to the Veterinary Diagnostic Reference Laboratory in Jos.
Unfortunately, the results returned positive for ‘Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1)’, prompting the urgent fumigation exercise. The primary objective of the operation is to prevent the disease from spreading beyond the affected facility.
