Niko
Editor, Senior Moderator
Bird Flu - Health Workers Fumigate Poultry Markets Ahead of Festivals
Daily Trust (Abuja)
NEWS
9 December 2007
Posted to the web 10 December 2007
By Hamza Idris
Damaturu
Ahead of the Eid-el Kabir and Yuletide celebrations which are characterized by increase in poultry consumption, officials of the National Avian Influenza Control programme in Yobe State have begun the fumigation of poultry markets, stores and cages with the aim of reducing the chances of spreading avian influenza virus and associated diseases.
The desk officer in charge of animal health in the Yobe State office, Dr. Yusuf Iliyasu, who led the team of health officers to kick-start the project at the Damaturu poultry market, said the initiative was to reduce risk of viral, bacteria and fungal infections "due to massive movement of poultry for celebrations of Sallah, Christmas and New year expected to commence soon".
He said the avian influenza office had received large stock of medicines, including Discol, which would be used to disinfect markets, stores, cages, slaughter slabs and vehicles that transport poultry from within and outside Yobe State.
Dr. Iliyasu said the Yobe State office of the bird diseases control programme had successfully stemmed all traces of bird infections, adding that similar control initiative would be carried out in Potiskum, Nguru, Gashua and other major cities across Yobe State.
Kanem Trust reports that some 4000 domestic birds including ostrich, geese, turkey, duck chicken and pigeon belonging to about 40 farmers from Potiskum, Fika and Fune local government areas of Yobe State were killed between December 2006 and March this year following reported cases of bird flu in some houses and farms.
Farmers whose domestic birds were killed by health officials following the outbreak of the influenza had also received financial compensation from the National Avian Influenza Control Programme to the tune of N1.392 million.
Dr. Iliyasu, who described the fight against bird diseases as "an open project for everybody," said his office had trained poultry dealers in Damaturu and other locations on how to disinfect the places they are carrying out their businesses.
He added that efforts are on the way to construct a modern poultry 'dressing centre,' also known as abattoir, so as to "discourage consumers from carrying live poultry to their houses to slaughter by themselves".
http://allafrica.com/stories/200712100918.html
Daily Trust (Abuja)
NEWS
9 December 2007
Posted to the web 10 December 2007
By Hamza Idris
Damaturu
Ahead of the Eid-el Kabir and Yuletide celebrations which are characterized by increase in poultry consumption, officials of the National Avian Influenza Control programme in Yobe State have begun the fumigation of poultry markets, stores and cages with the aim of reducing the chances of spreading avian influenza virus and associated diseases.
The desk officer in charge of animal health in the Yobe State office, Dr. Yusuf Iliyasu, who led the team of health officers to kick-start the project at the Damaturu poultry market, said the initiative was to reduce risk of viral, bacteria and fungal infections "due to massive movement of poultry for celebrations of Sallah, Christmas and New year expected to commence soon".
He said the avian influenza office had received large stock of medicines, including Discol, which would be used to disinfect markets, stores, cages, slaughter slabs and vehicles that transport poultry from within and outside Yobe State.
Dr. Iliyasu said the Yobe State office of the bird diseases control programme had successfully stemmed all traces of bird infections, adding that similar control initiative would be carried out in Potiskum, Nguru, Gashua and other major cities across Yobe State.
Kanem Trust reports that some 4000 domestic birds including ostrich, geese, turkey, duck chicken and pigeon belonging to about 40 farmers from Potiskum, Fika and Fune local government areas of Yobe State were killed between December 2006 and March this year following reported cases of bird flu in some houses and farms.
Farmers whose domestic birds were killed by health officials following the outbreak of the influenza had also received financial compensation from the National Avian Influenza Control Programme to the tune of N1.392 million.
Dr. Iliyasu, who described the fight against bird diseases as "an open project for everybody," said his office had trained poultry dealers in Damaturu and other locations on how to disinfect the places they are carrying out their businesses.
He added that efforts are on the way to construct a modern poultry 'dressing centre,' also known as abattoir, so as to "discourage consumers from carrying live poultry to their houses to slaughter by themselves".
http://allafrica.com/stories/200712100918.html
