The Lagos State Government has said it has commenced the decontamination exercise of 35 major bird markets in the state to prevent avian influenza and other bird-borne diseases.
The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Abisola Olusanya, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, adding that the first phase of the decontamination commenced at Awolowo market in Mushin on Tuesday.
She said, “The Lagos State Government is not only a proactive government but a firm believer in the maxim that ‘prevention is better than cure,’ and that is why from time to time, in collaboration with the Federal Government, we go around the length and breadth of the state to decontaminate the bird markets and prevent the outbreak of bird diseases like avian flu.
“Another thing we do during the exercise is to educate as well as enlighten bird sellers on practical ways to take better care of their birds and the latest practices in bird rearing and selling. These pep talks have gone a long way to reducing the spate of death among birds in Lagos State.”
The Veterinary Epidemiologist at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Sito Modupe, advised bird sellers to, aside from the decontamination carried out, make sure they employ bio security measures which include the changing of cages from wooden to steel or plastics so that they would be easier for them to clean and disinfect.
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