East Nigeria records fresh outbreak of bird flu

[Richard Akindele]

Bird flu has broken out in three local government areas in Nigeria's east state of Taraba, the official News Agency of Nigeria reported on Friday.

Yusuf Joseph, field officer in charge of Livestock and Pest Control Services in the state, was quoted as saying "bird flu outbreak has been recorded in Wukari, Ibi and Gassol local government areas."

The first case in the state was reported in early June, Joseph said, adding that "when the outbreak was reported, officials of the Federal Diagnosis Laboratory, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the state Ministry of Agriculture met and came out with a plan of action."

The field officer also said the team had drawn up a memorandum for the Taraba state government on how to tackle the problem.

However, he added, "the problem needs the most urgent attention, but the state government is not giving it the required attention which is very disappointing."

Joseph called on the state government "to urgently come up with a solution to combat the disease."

According to Taraba State Agriculture Commissioner Stephen Omar, the government has sent experts to the affected areas and is making efforts to control the situation.

The outbreak of bird flu was first confirmed in the most populous African country with a population of over 138 million on February 7, 2006. But so far no human being has been infected.

Source: Xinhua