Because the nation braces to surmount the challenges posed by a possible Human Pneumovirus (HMPV) outbreak, the federal authorities has confirmed an outbreak of Extremely Pathogenic Avian Influenza (AI), generally known as chook flu, in Kano State.
The illness, which impacts numerous chook species, together with layers, geese, guinea fowls, and turkeys, has raised issues over its potential unfold within the area and past.
A round signed by Dr. Taiwo Olasoju, on behalf of the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, highlighted the upcoming danger of transmission throughout this era.
On December 19, 2024, a case of suspected AI illness was offered to Gwale Veterinary Clinic. The affected farm is a multi-species yard poultry with quite a lot of birds, together with chickens, geese, and guinea fowls, positioned at Hausawa quarters in Gwale LGA.
Additional historical past revealed that the birds began dying after the farmer added a brand new male duck purchased from the Janguza stay birds’ market on December 12, 2024.
The state’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Pure Sources, Dr Danjuma Mahmoud, in a press release, mentioned that preliminary signs of the illness have been noticed on Dec. 18, 2024, with affected birds exhibiting indicators of sudden demise, respiratory misery, excessive morbidity and mortality.
Mahmoud mentioned that 35 birds had died of the illness, whereas 16 others have been slaughtered as a result of outbreak.
The nation just isn’t new to the virus as Nigeria’s first outbreak of chook flu was confirmed in January 2006, the primary epidemic in poultry in Africa, killing thousands and thousands of birds whereas thousands and thousands extra have been culled to include its unfold.
We recall that the virus was found on Sambawa farms (Igabi Native Authorities), Kaduna State, on 8 January 2006 and confirmed by the OIE World Reference Laboratory at Padova, Italy, on 7 February 2006.In 2006, 312 circumstances and in 2015, 256 outbreaks of the extremely pathogenic avian influenza have been recorded within the nation.
The financial and livelihood losses have been large because the illness unfold everywhere in the nation, with 100 per cent mortality in lots of circumstances. The estimated financial price of the chook flu outbreak is N9 billion (about US$32 million), with individuals shedding investments, livelihoods, and jobs.
Scientifically often called Avian Influenza and the pathogenic kind as Extremely Pathogenic Avian Influenza, Chook flu is a illness in birds (particularly poultry) attributable to an influenza virus and is very pathogenic, that means it causes tissue and organ injury within the host and might kill greater than 75 per cent of the contaminated flock.
Extremely pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus infections have contaminated greater than 880 individuals with about 50 per cent case fatality globally.
Based on consultants, signs in contaminated poultry embody sudden demise, respiratory misery, cough and haemorrhages in tissue and organs.
It’s zoonotic and, subsequently, will be deadly for people too, together with different animals like pigs, horses and canine.
Nevertheless, Nigeria is essentially the most affected African nation by way of the frequency and burden of avian flu, making it the vacation spot “sink” of the strains circulating in Europe at any given time.Chook flu is generally launched into Nigeria by way of the presence and actions of untamed birds, as evidenced within the 2015-2016 outbreak, throughout which 4 virus introductions into Nigeria, probably from East Europe, have been recognized.
Chook watchers and ornithologists, (scientists specialising within the department of zoology that offers with the examine of birds), have discovered that migratory birds from Europe transfer into Nigeria yearly in the course of the chilly harmattan season (November – February), which is the height time for avian flu outbreaks.
Nevertheless, consultants warn that the illness might develop into endemic in Nigeria if circulation continues and the identical pressure is detected. Based on them, if a illness is continually circulating in reservoir hosts, it is going to ultimately unfold to poultry and people.
Whereas calling for biosecurity measures to be stepped up, the federal government might have to think about different measures.
This will likely embody managed and controlled vaccination utilizing vaccines utilized in Egypt, China, and Indonesia with a combination of success and failure, at the same time as vaccines solely cut back the affect of the illness however don’t stop an infection or re-infection.
We acknowledge that we will’t change birds’ routes or habits, however it’s as much as Nigerian authorities to make sure it retains its native birds and other people as secure as doable.This would come with surveillance of untamed birds at wetlands and monitoring of viral infections as a result of early detection is significant for early warning, danger evaluation, and an infection management.
These within the agricultural sector additionally have to introduce efficient management measures at stay chook markets and enhance the way in which poultry is traded extra broadly.
Measures would come with restructuring the stay chook markets, discouraging the blending of species, and introducing plastic cages and crates that may be simply cleaned and disinfected.
Frequent cleansing, disinfecting, and decontaminating stay chook market environments is essential for illness containment.
Additionally, the federal authorities ought to, by way of its company, the Nationwide Orientation Company (NOA), create sensitisation and consciousness to coach farmers and merchants in regards to the risks of the virus and learn how to defend their flocks and for farmers to keep away from mixing birds from completely different sources, particularly throughout this time.
As well as, we name for nearer monitoring of poultry populations to detect and reply to potential circumstances promptly.
