The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has raised an alarm of a possible spread of Avian Influenza in Nigeria, which must be contained immediately. Nigeria’s representative from FAO, Dr Louise Setshwaelo, issued this warning on Thursday in Abuja. Setshwaelo said: “The stakes are now high; the possibility of the disease becoming endemic in Nigeria is real and this is of great concern to us in FAO. “Not only will this have a profound consequence on the country’s poultry industry, but also to the rest of the West African sub-region. So far, no human cases of bird flu have been reported in Nigeria. “However, I would like to note that if the disease becomes endemic in Nigeria, there is a possibility of human cases emerging. “I think this is an important message all of us in the poultry sector should take note of.’’ Setshwaelo reiterated that since Jan. 2015, the materials that FAO donated to the ministry coupled with the financial support for laboratory diagnosis, control of outbreaks as well as strengthening surveillance and early detection, amounted to $600,000. The Minister of State for Agriculture, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, who received the equipment on behalf of the Federal Government expressed gratitude to FAO. Sen. Lokpobiri said: “Let me on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria express our profound gratitude to FAO and other development partners for this initiative. “I want to assure you that these items that have been given to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will be put to very judicious use. That is the only feedback I know you want to hear. “Having shown your commitment, I want to assure you that we will do whatever is necessary to use these materials to combat the ongoing spread of avian influenza that has very serious effect on the economy and on the health of Nigerians,’’ he concluded.
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