Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina has disclosed that 18 states in the country have avian influenza (AI), reports Leadership.

The minister while speaking at a two-day refresher training course organised for federal and state epidemiology officers on AI prevention and containment in Ibadan, lamented that a total of 322 poultry farms have been affected.

He said that, on 23 March, Kano has the highest number of 156, Plateau 82, Bauchi 19 and Kaduna 14 farms.

In an effort to contain the current AI resurgence in the country, he said, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is partnering with the federal government by engaging over 160 participants in a training the trainers workshop and capacity building for relevant officers. He commended the initiative and support from the USAID.

Represented by deputy director in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Ademola Majasan, Mr Adesina disclosed that the resurgence of the disease affected the poultry industry at a time when it was about to achieve national self-sufficiency in poultry and poultry products, with the possibility of exports to the ECOWAS sub-region.

He said: “The last outbreak of the disease which occurred between February 2006 to July 2008 affected the poultry industry at the point when we were about to achieve national self-sufficiency in poultry and poultry products, with the possibility of exports to the ECOWAS sub-region.

“The outbreak affected poultry farms in 25 states and the FCT that led to depopulation of more than 1.2 million birds, destruction of 118, 183 eggs and payment of the sum of 631 million naira as compensation.”

According to him, the strategy is to ensure the disease is effectively contained while not creating any unnecessary public panic, added the report in Leadership.