By: Felix Ikpotor
The Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture has confirmed that an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, has occurred at a 3,000-capacity poultry farm in Iriebe, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
The outbreak which was initially reported on January 17, 2025, was however, confirmed by the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Victor Kii, in a statement he released on Tuesday.
The statement said the affected farm has been placed under strict quarantine to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread of the disease.
Kii noted that the birds have also been depopulated while the premises have been decontaminated using international best practices.
He said disinfectant chemicals have been provided for continuous decontamination of the farm, adding that the Ministry’s veterinary teams, in collaboration with the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, have visited the farm and taken necessary measures to prevent the spread of the disease.
The Commissioner added that the Ministry has also launched an awareness campaign to sensitize poultry farmers on best practices to prevent the disease.
The campaign, he said, is being carried out in collaboration with various organizations, such as the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) and the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, and is aimed to educate farmers and the public about avian influenza, its symptoms, and the importance of biosecurity measures in poultry management.
The Commissioner, however, urged poultry farmers and members of the public to report any unusual symptoms in birds, such as sudden death, decreased egg production, respiratory distress, redness in the shank, swollen comb and wattles.
He assured that the Ministry is committed to safeguarding the health of the poultry industry and the public, and has asked for the cooperation of all stakeholders, saying; “By working together and remaining vigilant, the Ministry believes that the impact of the outbreak can be mitigated.
“For further information or to report symptoms, the public can contact the Ministry of Agriculture on 08142631325 or visit their social media platforms: Instagram – rsministryofagriculture, Facebook – Rivers state ministry of agriculture.”
However, he assured that all necessary measures are being taken to prevent the spread of the disease and to protect the health of the public.
