KANO – The Kano State Government on Friday called on residents to report suspected cases of bird flu to relevant authorities for prompt action.
Dr Shehu Bawa, the Director, Veterinary Services in the state Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, made the appeal while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano.
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Bawa said the call was necessary in view of the large number of poultry farms in the state.
“There are over 500 poultry farms in Kano state hence the need for members of the public including owners of such farms to report suspected cases of the disease for appropriate action,” he said.
Bawa said the state government had so far done a lot in controlling the situation by providing the necessary drugs and other logistics to the ministry for treatment and surveillance on daily basis.
He commended the Federal Government for sending a team of experts to assess the situation and directing the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to pay compensation to the 17 affected farmers in the state.
“As I am talking to you now, we are expecting another team from Abuja tomorrow.
“During our meeting with the Minister of Agriculture, he said they will pay compensation to all the affected farmers within the next three days,” Bawa said.
He, however, urged the federal government to intensify effort towards curtailing the disease especially now that so many states had been hit by the epidemic.
Bawa said no fewer than 100,000 chickens had so far been killed in 28 poultry farms since the outbreak of bird flu in the state about four weeks ago.
“We will continue to enlighten members of the public on the need to report suspected cases of the disease even on other birds in the bush,” he said. (NAN)