25 September 2008
The Yobe State avian influenza control desk has embarked on a special disinfection of birds, the Desk Officer, Dr Yusuf liyasu, said yesterday.
Iliyasu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu that the measure was aimed at ensuring the safety of birds to be consumed during the forthcoming Sallah celebration. Iliyasu said:
"We are conscious of the massive chicken consumption this yuletide period and that is why we have continuously repeated disinfection of poultry farms and markets in the state.
"At the moment, the 14 major poultry farms, slaughter houses and vehicles used in transporting all kinds of birds are being disinfected." He further said that local government desk officers had been directed "to visit all poultry markets in their respective local government areas and closely monitor the movement of birds and report suspicious occurrences".
Iliyasu commended poultry farmers and sellers in the state for their cooperation in ensuring that all poultry farms and markets were disinfected. "Our determination was massively supported by their cooperation in ensuring that no farm or market is left unattended to under the exercise.
"We have community-based surveillance team comprising of poultry sellers and farmers who assist us in monitoring the birds and report same to the office for necessary action," the desk officer said. According to him, members of the surveillance team are also trained by the office on the procedure of disinfecting markets and slaughter houses.
"We have received a lot of disinfection kits and motorcycles from the head office to facilitate the movement of our officers into the remote areas," Iliyasu said.
He expressed commitment of the office toward ensuring that birds and bird consumers in Yobe were not exposed to avian influenza infection. (NAN)
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