In a statement released yesterday January 15th, the ministry said that there has been an increasing number of deaths of poultry animals in two poultry farms and live bird markets in Lagos and Kano.
Test conducted on the dead birds at the National Veterinary Research Institute showed the birds were infected with H5 Strain of Avian Influenza virus, otherwise known as bird flu.
The ministry says measures have been put in place to contain the spread of the deadly virus as the poultries and market where the disease was first identified has been quarantined.
The Ministry instructed all state Ministry of Agriculture and its agencies to be on the alert for any new case of the disease.
“All state Directors of Veterinary Services and the Federal Capital Territory, Poultry Association of Nigeria and other stakeholders have been informed and advised to be on alert with intensified bio-security measures to avert possible spread of the disease to other states. The World Organisation for Animal Health and Inter African Bureau for Animal Resource and development partners have been appropriately notified in compliance with our statutory international obligations.”