TO guard against cases of bird flu influenza and Lassa fever disease from spreading into the 27 Local Councils, the Imo State government at the weekend, said it has mounted increased surveillance across its borders.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, Udo Agoha, who said this at the weekend in Owerri, warned poultry and livestock dealers not to import birds into the state, as there was no reported case of the influenza in the state.

Agoha said: “There is no case of this influenza. We have started enlightenment programme to tell people what and how to curb the spread into the state. That is why we are warning people not to import birds into the state presently because by doing that, you would not know when you import the disease. So we are using this medium to call on poultry farmers not to import birds from outside the state so that we don’t contaminate the stock we have.”

He regretted that all birds in the Imo Avutu Poultry in Obowo, were killed because of the flu.

Advising people to alert government in the event of suspicions, Agoha cautioned people to properly cook chicken well before consumption, adding that the disease is characterised by general weakness and massive death of birds.

The Commissioner of Health, Social Welfare and Women Affairs, Mrs. Ngozi Njoku, has said the state has inaugurated a Lassa Fever control panel to tackle disease outbreak.

She said this in a forum in Owerri, noting that government had inaugurated an Emergency Response Committee, charged with the identification of isolation centre in the case of any reported case of Lassa Fever.

Noting that government has strengthened the procurement of drugs, protective equipment (PPE) and other precautionary mechanisms, she said the safety of Imo people is paramount to government.

He urged people to maintain hygiene, clean environment and avoid contacts with rats, noting that the ministry has mounted increased awareness and public enlightenment activities.