Winifred Bosa.

Avian influenza, popularly known as Bird flu has resurfaced in Kano state, the state government announced on Wednesday.

Dr Shehu Bawa, the Director Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, disclosed this to our correspondent in Kano.

Bawa said the outbreak was recorded in one of the poultry farms in the state.

He said the affected farm had been depopulated while stringent measures were taken to prevent the spread of the disease.

“The state government has taken proactive measures to contain the spread of the disease to other farms within the state,” Bawa said.

He said part of the measures taken to check the spread of the disease include disinfection of the affected farm and routine surveillance of other farms.

Bawa called on farmers to immediately report to the appropriate authority outbreak of the disease in their respective farms to enable government take prompt action.

“I am using this opportunity to advise farmers to immediately report any outbreak of the disease to enable government take prompt response.”

On inadequate number of veterinarians, the director urged the government to employ more for effective supervision of abattoirs in the state.

He said most of the abattoirs lacked veterinarians to inspect animals before being slaughtered.

“With the exception of the two abattoirs at Kofar Mazugal and Bachirawa, others have no meat Inspectors.

“So, there is need to have veterinarians to supervise abattoirs in each of the 44 Local Government Areas of the state,” he said.