The Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) has urged poultry farmers in the country to safeguard their farms against bird flu by applying the appropriate bio-security measures.
The Registrar, Dr Mrcus Avong, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, while reacting to the recent outbreak of bird flu in Lagos State.
Avong stated that not all strategies mapped out for the containment of the disease were being implemented hence the need for individual farmers to safeguard their farms.
He noted that active surveillance and restriction of poultry, poultry products and by-products had not been implemented hitherto.
“The Lagos outbreak is not a new one; it is part of the ongoing spread of the disease because it started in a few States, then spread to 18 and now 21 States.
“We have not controlled the disease to the extent of declaring Nigeria free of the problem; it is still going round’’ he explained.
Avong, therefore, urged farmers to take adequate measures that would discourage wild birds and other organisms such as rodents and pests from invading their farms.
According to him, these organisms are responsible for the spread of the disease from one farm to another through their movement.
He further urged the Federal Department of Veterinary Services and its State counterparts to collaborate with the Nigerian Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) in conducting proper surveillance toward inhibiting the spread of bird flu.
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