In West Africa, Niger has reported the country’s first outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) for more than three years. Meanwhile, tests have revealed further cases in poultry in Nigeria and Algeria.
In mid-February, the first signs of HPAI were observed in a backyard flock of Brahma poultry in Niamey Karadjé, Niger, according to the official notification. Half of the flock died. One week later, around 200 laying hens out of a flock of 28,000 died at a farm in Niamey Saguia, according to the report to the World Organisation for Animal Health. Presence of the H5N1 HPAI virus was confirmed at both locations.
The source of infection is attributed to air transmission, according to the official report. In this West African state, this virus was last detected in 2017.
Located in the southwest of Niger, Niamey is the capital district.
H5N1 HPAI was last detected in Niger in September of 2017.
Second outbreak in Algeria
Last week, a new outbreak of avian flu was reported in the Seriana region, reported ProMedMail. No information is given on details of the outbreak, but the source identifies the likely involvement of the H5N8 HPAI virus.
This district is in the eastern state of Batna, which borders Oum el Bouaghi. This was the location of the North African country’s first outbreak, where the presence of the H5N8 virus variant was confirmed in early February.
More poultry farms hit by avian flu in Nigeria
One month ago, The Guardian reported that five poultry farms had been depopulated in Jos. These were all located in the community of Dung in Plateau state in central Nigeria.
The preventative cull followed a suspected outbreak in Dung at the end of January, which resulted in a positive identification of the virus. Another farm in the south of Jos was under investigation.
In February, three HPAI outbreaks in poultry were reported in different Nigerian states — Kano, Plateau, and Bauchi. Involving a total of around 13,600 poultry, these outbreaks were linked to the H5N1 virus variant.
View our continuing coverage of the global avian influenza situation.
