The Director of Veterinary Services, Plateau Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Doris Bitrus has advised farmers to adhere strictly to farm hygiene in order to check the spread of bird flu.

She said that adherence to farm hygiene would ensure the disease did not re-surface in the state.

Bitrus, who spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Jos, said that farmers must be wary in the handling of the birds as the disease had resurfaced in about six states.

“Bird flu spreads very fast and easily in the country because poultry products are being moved from one point to another without much restriction.

“The last time the disease began in Lagos between Jan. 8 and Jan. 18, it immediately spread to Plateau within the span of just 10 days.

“So, report has it that the disease has shown its ugly face in about six states in the country again.”

The director said a lot of farmers suffered losses during the last outbreak of the disease in the state, saying, government would not allow such ugly incident again.

“We are calling on farmers not to relax on adhering strictly to farm hygiene, because Nigeria is not yet free from bird flu.”

Bitrus, however, said the state was yet to record the disease in any farms since June.

She said the development was because most farmers adhere to the tenets of the poultry business.

She, therefore, expressed delight on steps taken by the state chapter of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) to ensure its members upheld standard practices on their farms.

Similarly, the spokesperson of the body, Mrs. Gladys Okafor said the association was relentless at ensuring that the disease was kept out of the state.

She said that enlightenment workshops were organised to keep members abreast of how to check spread of bird flu. (NAN)

•Photo shows A Poultry Farm