THE Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Yusuf, has confirmed the death of 35 chickens from bird flu in the Gwale Local Government Area of the state.
Yusuf made the disclosure on Wednesday, assuring residents that the situation is under control as the Ministries of Health and Agriculture have teamed up to contain the outbreak and prevent its spread to other parts of the state.
Providing details, the commissioner said the outbreak began after a man in Gwale, the state metropolis introduced a duck into his poultry stock, leading to the death of 35 out of 50 birds.
“Following the deaths, the young man took a sample of the bird to the Gwale Veterinary Clinic for diagnosis. The test confirmed the presence of the bird flu virus,” Yusuf stated.
He added that the Ministry of Agriculture promptly sealed the affected poultry farm, culled the remaining birds, and decontaminated the premises to prevent further spread.
“The proactive measures taken include sealing the farm, depopulating the remaining chickens, and thoroughly decontaminating the compound,” Yusuf explained.
The commissioner noted that while the situation is serious, it is not severe enough to be declared an outbreak.
Yusuf revealed that the Ministry of Health has also decontaminated live bird markets in Janguza and sensitised sellers on the dangers and symptoms of bird flu.
“To ensure comprehensive control, we have convened meetings with stakeholders, including the Emergency Preparedness Response and One Health committees, to strategize on preventing the spread of the virus,” he said.
He added that surveillance efforts will be intensified across all local government areas, with daily reports expected from poultry farmers and bird rearers.
