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Nigeria to eradicate bird flu soon: official

Xinhua, February 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

Nigeria will soon eradicate bird flu (Avian influenza) from the country, a top official with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture said on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, Ademola Raji, a senior director in the ministry, said the country was in full control of the outbreak of bird flu, saying it was using multiple approaches to combat the virus.

"I can assure you that Government is making good progress in the control of bird flu and sooner than later, it would be stamped out of the country," he told reporters.

Raji said the poultry products are safe for consumption, and advised Nigerians to ensure proper cooking and high level of hygiene.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Akinwumi Adesina, had confirmed the outbreak of bird flu in 11 states in January.

According to him, as at Jan. 27 a total of 232,385 birds had been exposed and 51, 444 birds mortality had been recorded in the affected states.

Adesina also approved some funds as compensation for affected farmers whose farms had been depopulated as a measure to control the spread of the flu.

The minister also urged farmers to report any case of poultry disease to appropriate authority or veterinarians for proper application of control measures. Endi