Since the declaration of the avian influenza outbreak in Kebbi State over a month ago, a dispute between poultry farmers and the state government regarding the authenticity of the epidemic has persisted, causing concern among residents.

The outbreak was announced on January 29, 2024, following the mysterious deaths of local chickens and peacocks at a backyard farm in the state metropolis. Upon the initial report, the Kebbi State Ministry of Animal Health, Husbandry, and Fishery dispatched a team of doctors to investigate the incident.

The team found that the outbreak occurred in a backyard where local chickens and peacocks were intermingled, prompting the government to send samples to Vom in Jos, Plateau State, for further examination. The test results confirmed avian influenza, leading the government to mobilize a One-Health team, consisting of experts from various ministries and the World Health Organization, to address the situation.

Source: Daily Trust