IMO State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Frank Ibezim, has blamed the officials of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture for bloating information of the outbreak of Avian influenza, bird flu, in the state.

  Briefing journalists in Owerri at the weekend, Ibezim, regretted that as the samples of the infected birds were taken to the laboratory for analysis, the information was let lose without the prior information to the state officials.

    He disclosed that the state government has destroyed, depopulated and buried and quarantined the affected two poultry farms in the state, urging the consumers of chickens in the state to be mindful and report any suspected cases to the appropriate authorities.

  The Commissioner restated the stand of the state government to ensure that the health of the residents of the state is taken uppermost in its policies and programmes.

   Speaking, an official of the Epidemiological Department of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Victoria Ajai, urged people to be vigilant and report any suspected case or cases to her office for prompt action.

  In his contribution, the Imo State President of the Association of Poultry Farmers, Chibuzo Ohaneye, regretted that the information about the presence of the outbreak in the state has affected the sales of birds in their farms, adding that prices fall from about N7,200 to N700.