Lagos state government has unveiled precautionary measure aimed at preventing an outbreak of the deadly avian flu pandemic
in the state
At a seminar organized by the Nigerian
veterinary medical associate on bird flu and its management of food safety in Lagos.
The emergence of the disease in a state like Lagos, “ where chicken is a phenomenon source of protein, has serious socio-economic implication not only on poultry but also on feeding mills, agriculture crops, job security and lower protein intake of the citizens, particularly children”
The measure as being in line with the administration’s policy on food and security, the state government has embarked on an intra state surveillance, which culminated in the division of the state in to six zones. A team has been setup, which will carry out surveillances of all farms within their zone, monitor and report any outbreak of the suspected flu. The states as also setup restriction on the movement of poultry products into the state.
There is an educative process been put place through an
enlightenment campaign which were crucial to the prevention of the disease by means of enlightenment programmed through the various media means to sensitize the entire farming population and citizen of Lagos on bird flu.
The state as plan to sanitized the veterinary sector through workshop, research effort and facility construction.
Apart from liaising with the veterinary research institute, the state had concluded plans to construct an animal health hospital with a veterinary diagnostic laboratory.
Therefore, the state as then urged the stakeholders of the statutory needed to register with the veterinary department, ministry of agriculture and co-operatives, in accordance with the animal disease control decree and also be aware of danger the flu can cause which have already have been an outbreak in some part of northern state in the country.