Avian Influenza kills 164,000 birds in Delta

The Delta State Government has confirmed an outbreak of Avian Influenza or bird flu in farms across seven local government areas of the state.

Delta State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr Julius Egbedi, stated this in Asaba, adding that about 164,473 birds had died of Avian Flu.

He said the affected farms were located in Udu, Oshimili South, Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Okpe and Sapele local government areas.

According to him, all samples from the reported farms were sent to the National Veterinary Institute Jos and all were confirmed to be the H5N1 strain of the Avian Influenza.

He said the state government has disinfected the affected farms and forbade the farmers from operating in them for the next three months, adding that efforts were underway to rescue the situation with collaboration from all the local government area chairmen.