Fears As Lagos Records New Bird Flu Cases

New incidences of bird flu have been recorded in Lagos state, with an
estimated 60,000 birds already affected, the News Agency of Nigeria
reports amid mounting fears and panic.

Executive Secretary of the Poultry Association of Nigeria, Lagos State
chapter, Mr. Olugbenga Ogunsetan, confirmed this yesterday in Lagos.

He said several poultry farms were affected by the avian influenza in
Ikorodu area of the state.

"Over 60,000 birds were lost in August after the avian influenza
ravaged the farms.

"This has largely affected production of poultry products and leading
to price hike in the area," Ogunsetan said.

Meanwhile, the state government said it was making arrangement with
the Federal Government for compensation to the affected poultry
farmers.

The Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Agriculture, Dr.
Olajide Basorun, who spoke on the compensation move, corroborated the
severity claim by the PAN scribe.

He said that compensating affected farmers would encourage others, who
were afraid to report the case, to come forward.

"The Lagos state government, in collaboration with the Federal
government, is already thinking of ways to support these farmers,
whose poultry were affected by the scourge.

"Many economies have shut down because of this avian influenza and
these economies have dependants, which mean a lot of people have lost
their livelihoods.

"Government is mindful of that and is working out modalities to
compensate the farmers so that others, who have the flu and have not
reported or are under reporting, will be encouraged to come forward,"
he said.

The permanent secretary said government does not want a scenario were
the farmers, who do not report, will sell their birds to unsuspecting
public.
He said where there was a reported case, the ministry had moved
swiftly to conduct tests and depopulate such farm.
-Vanguard