The Avian Influenza (bird flu virus) ravaging Plateau State is on the increase from the initial nine affected farms to 17, with about 58,000 birds depopulated, a government official has said.
The depopulation was carried out by the Avian Influenza Control Unit Department of the Ministry of Agriculture.
Giving an update on the influenza on Tuesday, the Desk Officer of the project unit, Ayuba Haruna, said that four local government areas comprising Jos East, Jos North, Jos South and Bassa, all in the northern zone of the state, were affected in latest attack of the bird flu virus.
The monitoring team are still on the field in search of affected farms for depopulation of birds as well as fumigation of the premises in efforts to reduce the spread.
On January 20, the Director of Veterinary Services, Plateau State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Doris Bitrus, confirmed the resurgence of avian influenza.
She told Channels Television that the affected farms had been depopulated and decontaminated to forestall the spread of the disease to other farms in the state.
The fresh cases of the disease were first reported to the Ministry on January 8, 2016, which prompted the Ministry to embark on inspection of the affected farms, as well as sensitisation of poultry farmers on steps to take on noticing symptoms of the disease.
