The Executive Director, National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Dr. Lami Hannatu Lombi, has disclosed that avian influenza known as bird flu, the highly pathogenic H5N1 subtype has ravaged the poultry industry world- wide as it has caused several- human fatalities, particularly in South- East Asia and part of North Africa, Egypt.

Dr Lombi made this disclosure at the opening ceremony of the European Union Flutrain International Workshop on avian influenza in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

According to her, these development has negatively affected food security and caused severe human psychosocial stress associated with the loss of several millions of poultry and sources of lively-hood worldwide.

She said when the H5N1 avian influenza virus was first reported in the country in January 2006 and was subsequently confirmed both in NVRI Vom, Nigeria and the FAO/0IE reference laboratory in Pandova, Italy, NVRI Avian influenza laboratory was re-equipped with the building of a new laboratory, provision of suitable facilities and better trained manpower to meet the challenges.

The executive director added that currently, the situation of HPA1 H5N1 in the country is under control with the last outbreak reported in July 2008. She added that there are ongoing expanded surveillance programme in the country.

She further said since avian influenza is trans-boundary, the institute has continued to maintain important linkages and collaboration across the globe and with key international organisation and staff serving as resource person in several local and international meetings and conferences.

In his remarks, the co-ordinator of EU-FLUTRAIN, William Dundun, said that NVRI will benefit from the research programme of EU-Flutrain and that since the institute is the only one in sub-Saharan, it is imperative that the workshop is held in Vom.

Similarly, the Commissioner of Agriculture in Plateau State, Hon.Na'Allah Mutbam, said NVRI is not just a regional laboratory for West and Central Africa but a global institution, urging them to strive to breake new grounds in the world.

According to him, Plateau State government, in partnership with an Israeli company, SEC Equipment and Communication Nigeria Limited, is establishing agricultural services and training centres in each senatorial zone of the state.