UN agencies are urging Nigeria to close down poultry markets and stop the movement of domestic fowl in a bid to prevent the spread of the deadly bird flu virus. In a joint statement issued on Friday by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the UN also called on Nigeria's neighbours - Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, Niger and Togo - to increase surveillance measures. "Veterinary staff should be mobilised to tighten border inspections and control," the statement said. "People should not import or trade livestock or livestock products, including poultry," it added. The two agencies are concerned that the virus could spread to other African nations following its detection earlier this week in the village of Jaji, in Nigeria's northern state of Kaduna. FAO and OIE said priority measures should include: Appropriate culling respecting OIE standards in and around outbreak spots, ring vaccination around infected areas, the control of people and livestock moving to and from outbreak zones, thorough disinfection, hygiene and good farming practices. Only vaccines that fulfil OIE international quality standards should be used. FAO and OIE plan to field a joint mission to Nigeria this weekend to reinforce the FAO veterinary team already on the ground. --SP 20 32 Local Time 17 32 GMT
