Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza(HPAI) or Bird flu caused by the H5N1 strain of the virus affects wild birds and domestic poultry in which it causes very high mortality. The disease has been reported
in several countries of the world. In Nigeria, the first and previous outbreak occurred in 2006 - 2008 until the current resurgence. In Nigeria, bird flu is of grave concern for at least three reasons:
Firstly, the poultry industry in Nigeria is estimated be worth over 700 billion naira, contributing about 25% of the agricultural GDP. A disease such as bird flu that is highly fatal and capable of decimating the poultry population, therefore,has the potential to adversely affect the country's economy.
Secondly, the poultry industry also employs an estimated 25 million people in Nigeria. If it is not contained, bird flu would place the jobs of a huge segment of the populace in jeopardy and exacerbate the already dire unemployment situation in the country with the attendant socio-economic consequences.
Thirdly, bird flu is a zoonotic disease, that is , it affects both animals and humans. While bird flu causes nearly 100% mortality in poultry, the mortality rate in humans is also high, ranging between 60-70%.
During the 2006 outbreak, a lady infected with the virus died in Lagos. While there are concerns on trying to limit the spread and stop the transmission from poultry to humans, the greater concern is on ensuring that the virus does not mutate into a form that can be transmitted from human to human.
The current outbreak was first reported from a commercial farm in Kano on 24th December, 2014 and a live bird market at Onipanu in Lagos on 8th January 2015. This was confirmed by the National
Veterinary Research Institute, Vom. As at yesterday, 18th February, the disease has been confirmed in 17 states nationwide. These are Kano, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Delta, Plateau, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Oyo,
Jigawa, Kaduna, Bauchi, Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto and Anambra.
The confirmed cases are from 146 poultry farms, 10 live bird markets and 1 zoological garden spread in 61 local government areas. There has not been any reported case of bird flu so far in humans in the country and all human samples have so far tested
negative.
Clinical signs in poultry.
While stressing that bird flu can only be confirmed from samples analysed in the laboratory, it is helpful to note that affected birds usually show signs of ruffled feathers, sneezing, coughing, drop in egg production, bluish comb and wattles, and high mortality.
Prospects for containment.
Despite the grim implications of bird flu resurgence in Nigeria, the prospects for its containment are bright. Firstly, less than 1% of the country's estimated 140 million poultry population is infected. We
also do not have a single human case so far. The experience, technical manpower, facilities and support used in containing the 2006 outbreak is accessible. Fortunately, the strong political will as
demonstrated in the swift and dynamic response of the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina as well as the synergy created by relevant stakeholders
such as Development partners, poultry farmers, veterinary doctors, the media, animal scientists, human medical doctors,and so on, provide huge potential for early containment of the disease. To this end, the N.V.M.A wishes to make the following recommendations:
1. The public should not panic.
2.Cases of ill health in poultry should be reported immediately to
the nearest veterinary clinic.
3.Poultry farms should ensure strict monitoring and restriction of movement of people and items such as crates, bags and so on especially between farms. There should also be strict hygiene before and after handling poultry.
4.The Avian Influenza Control Project structures in various states should be strengthened and equipped to,carry out public enlightenment, surveillance, depopulation, disinfection and so on.
State governments in particular should invest more in providing and upgrading veterinary infrastructure.
5. Active surveillance should be carried out immediately through out the country even in states where the disease has not been reported. This is to facilitate movement ahead of the virus.
6. More Veterinary Doctors should be employed by government. The
situation in some states that have less than 10 Veterinary Doctors in their service is inimical to both animal and public health. Such states cannot effectively implement effective health service delivery and control of diseases like bird flu.
7. More Veterinary hospitals, clinics and laboratories should be constructed while existing ones should be rehabilitated and
equipped. Specifically, the N.V.R.I laboratory in Vom and its zonal branches should be supported to enhance the capacity for quick and accurate diagnosis of bird flu and other diseases. Development partners should lend their support in these regard.
8. Standard operational procedures for poultry business should be re-designed and implemented.
9.The Animal Disease (Control) Decree No.10 of 1988 should be reviewed and streamlined to suite contemporary realities.
10.The N.V.M.A has weighed the scientific and other arguments concerning the use of vaccines and is of the opinion that for now, the current government policy against vaccination as a strategy in
control of bird flu should be sustained.
11.While commending the federal government for the payment of
compensation to farmers whose farms have been depopulated, more funds should be provided to facilitate the exercise to other farmers whose poultry have also been depopulated.
12.Poultry meat and eggs should be hygienically processed and, if well - cooked, is safe for human consumption.
Conclusion.
We call on all Veterinary Doctors to consider the current resurgence of bird flu as a professional challenge and rise to the occasion for the development of our people and our country. Veterinarians
should be more dedicated, innovative, resilient and adhere to the highest professional ethics and standards.
By the grace of God and working together as a nation, bird flu will also be conquered like Ebola.
