Kebbi govt raises alarm over avian influenza outbreak

The Kebbi State Epidemiology Operation Centre (EOC) at the weekend alerted the public about the outbreak of avian influenza in the State.

At a patrol with journalists at Amanawa in Kalgo Local Government Area of the state where the case of the highly pathogenic avian influenza was recorded at a poultry farm.

The Directors of Veterinary Service, Dr Alheri Ibrahim Senchi and the Director of Public Health, Abubakar Bagudu with the state ‘One Health Team’ comprising of the Ministries of Animal Health, Environment, Health, Information, WHO, and other partners said the outbreak of the H5N1 virus that killed all the peacocks at the farm where it was first recorded in the state portends danger to human health and may lead to death.

Dr Alheri who leads the state ‘one health team’ said measures have been taken to curtail the H5N1 virus as quickly as possible to see that it does not escalate across the state.

“Some peacocks were reported to have been ill and the pattern of their mortality became worrisome to us.

“We sent a team of doctors for preliminary investigation and sent samples to veterinary diagnostic laboratory in Jos. When it was analysed it was positive for highly pathogenic virus, (H5N1)”. He said.

Mr. Bagudu who is the Director of public health, stated that the state Epidemiology Operation Centre has been activated and the health team is already meeting with other partners like the WHO to ensure that the disease does not spread beyond the point it was discovered in the state.

“We came up with mitigation plan to take a list of people intermingling with animals and monitor them for 14 days to see if they will develop any symptoms, this is to ensure it does not escalate to human circle,” he explained.