The Kano State Government has urged residents to remain calm and report any suspected cases of avian influenza, also known as bird flu, to the authorities for a prompt response.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Yusuf, made the call in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the ministry, Ibrahim Abdullahi, on Tuesday evening.
“We urge the people of the state to remain calm, as the case is not severe enough to be declared an outbreak,” the Commissioner was quoted as saying in the statement. “The ministry is addressing the issue and taking proactive measures to confront the disease and contain its negative effects before it becomes deadly.”
According to the statement, the Commissioner of Health had already convened a meeting with the Emergency Preparedness Response and One Health Committees, which include the ministries of Agriculture, Environment, and Water Resources, as well as relevant partners, to discuss and strategise on ways to address the issue.
“For now, this is what we have been doing. A meeting will be held every week with the stakeholders, and the public will be regularly informed about the situation. Surveillance will be intensified in every LGA, particularly among poultry and other bird rearers. Reports will be sent to these committees on a daily basis to inform Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the situation.”
The Commissioner explained that symptoms of bird flu include fever, mucus, and redness of the eyes, among others.
He urged people, especially poultry rearers, to be the first line of surveillance in order to safeguard their flocks and wealth by reporting any unhealthy birds to the relevant authorities for prompt action.
According to the statement, the rumoured outbreak began following a report that, in December 2024, a young man from Gwale LGA bought a duck from Janguza market in Tofa LGA and introduced it to his stock of hens, guinea fowls, and chickens.
“Later, the man noticed that his birds were showing signs of respiratory distress, and there was mortality; out of 50 birds, 35 died. He then decided to bring samples to the Gwale Veterinary Clinic for diagnosis. In the first week of January 2025, the bird flu virus was confirmed in the samples.”
“Immediately upon receipt of the result, the state Ministry of Agriculture proactively sealed the site, depopulated the remaining chickens, and decontaminated the compound. The Ministry also decontaminated the premises where live birds are sold in Janguza market and sensitised people on the effects of the disease,” the statement added.