AVIAN INFLUENZA UPDATE.

The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus has made its entrance into Nigeria,making its first appearance in Kano. The bird flu virus has been linked to cases of high mortality in poultry birds in 4 local government involving 10 farms. The affected farms have been quarantined, the birds destroyed and surveillance of farms and live bird market in the area is on-going, also an alert has been sent to other states in a bid to curb spread of virus. The bird flu virus crossed states to make a second appearance in Lagos state, the virus is believed to have made its way during the yuletide season when birds came into the state from the north. The resurgence of bird flu in Lagos occurred on a poultry farm in Badore area ,in Ajah. The virus killed most of the flock, the others have been destroyed and farm quarantined. There has also been high mortality in ducks, emu, geese in a zoological garden in V.G.C.,the garden is under surveillance as samples have been sent for confirmation. The resurgence of the bird flu in the country has been tackled with the following measures; 1) enhanced bio- security protocol on farms,live bird market, and poultry houses. 2) Active search surveillance. 3) Education of farmers and workers in poultry farms. 4) Disinfection/decontamination of farms and market. The bird flu virus occurred in Kano in 2006,2007,2008 and now 2015.The route of infection and perpetuation of the virus has been linked to migratory birds en-route that region,having access to water in farms,feed and contamination of bedding, as the virus shed in dropping of migratory bird is a contamination foci for domestic birds . The sanitary status on farms is also a factor in the spread. The feces of birds in contaminated farms should be disposed off and not as compost for fertilizer. The key to stopping the virus is high sanitary hygiene on farms, sheltering poultry to keep them away from wild birds, covering reservoir tanks of water to prevent contamination,also it will be necessary to give treated water on farms.This is another reason to incorporate VIRKON® S, in your bio-security protocol, to treat water on farm,to disinfect the farm equipment and use in foot dip. BE PROACTIVE! STEP UP BIO-SECURITY PROTOCOL! USE VIRKON® S.