The Enugu State Government, yesterday, alerted residents of the state about an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), commonly known as Bird Flu, which has been reported in Kano State. 
  
The outbreak has affected various bird species, including layers, ducks, guinea fowl, and turkeys. It stated that given the disease’s epidemiology and the current environmental conditions in Nigeria, there is a significant risk of it spreading to neighbouring states and beyond if adequate preventive measures are not taken.
  
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, Patrick Nwabueze Ubru, in a statement, stressed that to mitigate the risk and safeguard the poultry industry, as well as public health in Enugu State, the government has directed its veterinary personnel to increase implementation of preventive measures.
  
He stated that the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-industrialisation is intensifying efforts to educate poultry farmers, traders, and the general public on the risks associated with HPAI and the necessary prevention strategies.  He disclosed that surveillance teams have been deployed to closely monitor poultry farms and markets for any signs of HPAI. 

MEANWHILE, the Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Yusuf, has confirmed the death of 35 chickens from bird flu in the Gwale Local Council of the state.
 
Yusuf made the disclosure yesterday, assuring residents that the situation is under control as the Ministries of Health and Agriculture have teamed up to contain the outbreak and prevent its spread to other parts of the state.
  
Providing details, the commissioner said the outbreak began after a man in Gwale introduced a duck into his poultry stock, leading to the death of 35 out of 50 birds.