Bird flu: Poultry association tasks farmers on proper biosecurity

Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) has urged farmers to ensure proper biosecurity in their poultry farms to guide against transmission of Avian Influenza popularly known as Bird Flu to their farms.
The President of the association, Mr Ezekiel Mam, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, spoke in respect of the outbreak of bird flu in Nigeria, South Korea and other parts of the world.

Mam, who described avian influenza as airborne disease, noted that the outbreak usually occurred during cold weather between November and February.
He further advised farmers to restrict movement of humans to their farms.
According to him, farmers should make sure they disinfect all their equipment and ensure the environment is not accessible to pest because if they have contact with poultry they can easily infest the farm.

Mam called for surveillance, adding that avian influenza could easily be transmitted through the air.
He tasked governments on awareness creation among the populace on the disease to guide against its transformation.

He also appealed to the Federal Government to encourage the Customs and other security agencies to enforce strict ban on the importation of frozen poultry products, eggs and chicks to avoid the catastrophe.
NAN recalls that Hong Kong’s food safety authority on Jan. 18, suspended the importation of poultry meat and products from different areas in Britain, Germany and South Korea due to the outbreak of the bird flu.