Poultry farmers in Kano State have refuted claims of a widespread outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu. They acknowledged a single isolated case on one farm but assured the public that no other farms have reported any incidents of the disease.
Dr. Usman Gwarzo, Chairman of the Poultry Farmers Association, clarified that the situation does not constitute an endemic outbreak. He emphasized that an outbreak typically involves multiple farms, but in Kano, there have been no reports of unusual bird deaths across the farms.
Gwarzo, a medical epidemiologist, explained, “When you consider an outbreak, it is when it involves more than one farm. But in Kano, none of the farms reported any sudden death of birds, and so it is a single incident.” He urged the government to reinstate quarantine services to prevent the introduction of infected birds from other regions.
The association has already initiated precautions, working with its members to address potential risk factors, especially the common market-to-farm interaction where sick birds are sometimes sold in local markets. Gwarzo recalled the 2016 bird flu outbreak in Kano and reassured that the current situation does not warrant emergency measures, with no reports of unusual bird deaths from the association’s 800 members.
Poultry traders in Kano also supported the farmers’ statements, expressing that they were unaware of any bird flu outbreak. They added that the state health authorities regularly fumigate markets and conduct animal disease checks to ensure public safety.
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