In a statement yesterday, Ministry of Agriculture’s Department of Livestock and Veterinary Services Principal Director, Dr Unesu Ushewokunze-Obatolu said that Government has put Irvine’s Private Limited’s white meat and egg sub-sector under quarantine following an outbreak of avian influenza that left 7000 chickens dead.
Said Ushewokunze-Obatolu:
Affected units have been depopulated with stringent sanitary measures imposed. All trade partners, veterinary authorities of neighbouring countries and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) have been notified as necessary. Poultry keeping enterprises are urged to enhance their bio-security measures to promote tight and continuous separation from wild birds, while the exact source, thought to be wild ducks and geese in a nearby water body, is being investigated.
Symptoms of avian influenza include quick illness and sudden deaths.
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