ROME, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Nigeria must implement measures to control the spread of bird flu on poultry farms, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization said Tuesday.
FAO warned that the avian influenza virus was circulating in poultry flocks across the country, with outbreaks reported in at least 10 states over the past few months. The Rome-based agency said the virus was most likely spread along major trade routes, and cautioned that neighboring countries were at risk from birds moving across borders.
"The first confirmed case of H5N1 infection in humans in Nigeria shows that there is a continuing danger of human exposure to the virus from high-risk practices, such as handling sick or dead chickens, and especially from unsafe slaughtering of poultry at home or in markets," said Joseph Domenech, the agency's chief veterinary officer said.
FAO recommended Nigeria to "seriously consider targeted vaccination of poultry where appropriate." The country produced about 150 million live chickens in 2005.
