Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) continues to cause losses among poultry flocks in Niger and Nigeria. Combined with other recent challenges, the disease is leading to shortages of poultry on the Niger market. In South Africa, the HPAI situation appears to be easing.
Within less than one month, more than 181,300 poultry have been culled in the West African state of Niger, reports Le Griot. Action was taken to control the spread of the infection after four outbreaks were confirmed near the capital city, Niamey. Two virus variants — including the H5N1 HPAI — have been detected.
As Nigeria is the suspected source of infection, authorities in Niger have banned all poultry trade with its neighbor, according to this source. Most of the city’s poultry previously came from large poultry farms in Nigeria. Combined with recent floods that destroyed local chicken farms, shortages of poultry are reported in Niger.
Earlier this month, Niger lodged an official notification with the OIE about the return of HPAI. Presence of the H5N1 virus had been confirmed in a backyard flock and at a commercial farm in the Niamey area, involving more than 28,000 poultry.
Niger’s previous outbreak of HPAI linked to the H5N1 virus was in 2006. At the time, “when millions of poultry” were culled in the border states of Zinder and Maradi, according to Le Griot.
Nigeria takes steps to control avian flu
Authorities in Lagos state have begun a two-week program of disinfecting live bird markets, reports Vanguard News Nigeria. To control the resurgence of the infection, this process is being applied to 26 markets.
There are 3,000 poultry farms and 150 live bird markets in this southwestern state that includes the West African nation’s largest city. Local government has set up seven surveillance zones to give early warning of emerging outbreaks.
Since the end of January, Nigeria has registered four outbreaks of HPAI with the OIE. Directly impacting almost 14,000 poultry, these affected backyard flocks and commercial farms in three states.
Recently, it was reported that five poultry farms had been depopulated in one district of Jos, which is in Plateau state.
South Africa registers no new avian flu outbreaks
The latest reports from the national veterinary authority to the World Organisation for Animal Health reveal no new avian flu outbreaks.
Since June of 2017, there have been 219 confirmed outbreaks of HPAI linked to the H5N8 virus variant. These have occurred across several provinces, and directly impacted more than 5.9 million birds. Most recent detection was in November last year in a commercial ostrich flock.
A low-pathogenic avian influenza virus of the H7 family first emerged in South Africa in August of 2020. Up to the most recent cases in November, this infection had been detected in 22 flocks of commercial ostriches. All were located in Western Cape Province.
View our continuing coverage of the global avian influenza situation.
