When diseases spread among animals, it can be a big problem for farmers and the public.
Taking a quick action helps stop the spread and keeps both animals and people safe.
This is what the Government of Rivers State is doing to mitigate the effect of bird flu in the state.
The Rivers State Government has announced a one-week vaccination campaign for livestock across the 23 local government areas following suspected cases of anthrax, commonly known as bird flu.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Victor Kii, made this announcement in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
Bird Flu Outbreak
Earlier, on January 21st, Kii confirmed a suspected outbreak of the disease at a 3,000-capacity poultry farm in Iriebe, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
The affected farm was quarantined, and infected birds were culled to prevent further spread.
In a statement, Kii explained that the vaccination would prevent bird flu outbreak in the state.
According to him, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has approved the campaign.
The statement reads: “The Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture will carry out a state-wide vaccination of livestock from February 10 to February 17, following the recent anthrax outbreak in Zamfara State.
“In line with Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s policy on food security and safety, His Excellency has directed and approved the flag-off of this campaign to prevent any case of anthrax in Rivers State.
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“This action follows the confirmation by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of an anthrax outbreak in a mixed livestock farm in Niger and Zamfara states.
“The State Ministry of Agriculture will immediately implement the vaccination exercise across all livestock farms and raise public awareness about this development”.
Anthrax is a zoonotic disease affecting both animals and humans. It can spread through direct contact, consumption of infected meat or products, or inhalation of spores.
Furthermore, the ministry stressed that food safety and security require collective responsibility.
It urged every livestock farmer to cooperate with veterinary doctors for the vaccination.
“The Ministry of Agriculture is working closely with relevant stakeholders to prevent bird flu outbreak from reaching Rivers State,” the statement added.
Symptoms To Look Out For
Farmers were advised to watch for symptoms such as high fever, weakness, bleeding from body openings, and difficulty breathing in animals.
The commissioner also urged the public to be cautious when purchasing livestock by checking for signs of illness before slaughtering, avoiding contact with meat from sick or dead animals, and reporting sudden animal deaths to the Ministry of Agriculture.
“While we encourage caution, we also request the reporting of any suspected anthrax cases to the State Ministry of Agriculture,” Kii added.
