The Government of Niger State has officially declared the outbreak of avian influenza (flu) in a cluster of poultry farms.
This information was made available on Thursday in Minna through the Information Officer, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Abubakar Kuta, state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that poultries in the state were being infected by type A flu.
The statement also revealed that thousands of birds in the state, worth millions of naira, had been lost as a result of the flu.
Poultry farmers are advised to be vigilant and to immediately report any incident of sudden high death rate of their birds to the ministry.
The statement also advised farmers to ensure strict farm hygiene as well as restrict movement of vehicles and people into their farms.
Furthermore, it also advised them to properly disinfect their farm premises and utensils to prevent the transmission of the virus.
For further preventive measure, farmers were warned against the exchange of egg crates and other equipment brought in from other farms.
The statement advised the public and livestock marketers to reduce contacts with sick and dead birds.
