Bird Flu Hits Adamawa, Hundreds Of Birds Killed

Tom Garba

A disease suspected to be Avian Influenza has hit Toungo Local Government Area of Adamawa as hundreds of birds are reported dead.

Investigation by our correspondent in Yola reveals that the disease has already wiped out some poultry farms in the area.

According to the investigation, in 2009 the disease was first recorded in Lavundu village in Girei local government area of the state.

When contacted over the situation, the Adamawa state Commissioner for Livestock, Alhaji Isa Salihu on Monday confirmed that there was suspected Bird Flu case in the state.

Salihu told our reporter in Yola that the disease was reported at one poultry farm in Toungo Local Government Area of the state.

He said that a combined team of veterinary experts were deployed to the area to investigate and latter reported back that it was suspected Bird flu disease.

“The Ministry last week received a report from a Poultry farm belonging to one Alhaji Yusuf Toungo that a huge number of birds in the farm are  dying.

“The sample of the death birds from the poultry was taken to the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom in Plateau state for further investigation.”Salihu said.

He said that the state government had already taken quarantine measures including surveillance in the affected areas to contain the disease.

Salihu appealed to the people of the area not to panic and report any suspicious disease to the nearest Local Government Divisional Veterinary Officer for prompt action