Rivers Govt Destroys Hundreds Of Birds Over Flu

The Rivers State government says it has destroyed hundreds of birds in a private poultry farm in Port Harcourt, the state capital as bird flu resurfaces in the state again. 


The birds were destroyed after a laboratory test outside the state confirmed positive symptoms of Avian Influenza, otherwise known as bird flu.

Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon Emma Chinda, who confirmed the outbreak to journalists, in Port Harcourt, disclosed that the privately owned poultry farm where the virus manifested in the state has been quarantined and decontaminated.

"Samples that were taken from a private poultry farm for a laboratory test outside Port Harcourt turned out positive to the Bird Flu virus. To forestall the virus from spreading, we have destroyed hundreds of birds. The poultry farm has also been quarantined and decontaminated".

Chinda assured the citizenry that "We have no record of any human infection. There is no need for people to panic because the state government has taken appropriate measures to contain its spread".

"We advise that members of the public who want to eat animals and eggs should thoroughly boil them before they are eaten".

The commissioner for agriculture stated that the federal ministry of agriculture had notified the state government of the outbreak of Avian Influenza in Kano and a bird's market in Lagos.