Once again, Nigeria is facing an assault by the Avian Influenza – also known as bird flu – in what is gradually shaping into a regular occurrence that leaves in its wake a trail of panic and destruction, especially in the poultry industry. Though primarily an avian disease, there have also been cases of transmission from birds to humans. So, as concerns go to the birds, thoughts should be spared for the protection of lives, above every other consideration.
As of the last count, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, said 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory had been hit by the seemingly unstoppable gale of infection, leading to the culling of over 3.5 million birds.
This is no doubt a serious blow to the country’s conscious efforts over the past years to nurture the local industry to a level of self-sufficiency in poultry products, following a ban on imports. It is also an enormous economic loss to poultry farmers, some of whom must have collected loans from banks in a bid to expand the scope of their business. Yet, it is another opportunity, if care is not taken, for unscrupulous elements to exploit and flood the country with smuggled poultry products, much of which had been adjudged over time by health authorities to be unfit for human consumption.
However, there is hardly any time to waste. The rate at which the avian influenza spreads, it may just be a matter of time before the remaining 10 states are affected, if serious containment efforts are not mounted by the relevant authorities. It is obvious that there must have been some sloppiness in the handling of the outbreak so far, which is why it spread so rapidly. But a swift intervention will ensure that it is not only brought under control in areas where it has already been reported, but also stopped from spreading further.
Avian Influenza or Avian flu, experts say, is a virus infection that is not only deadly to birds but could also infect humans and other animals, with fatal consequences. The virus, according to America’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, occurs naturally among aquatic wild birds, but could also infect domestic poultry and other birds. There are two broad strains of the virus, categorised as high pathogenic {A (H5N1) and low pathogenic {A (H7N9)}, depending on its potential to cause disease that could lead to death.
The current outbreak marks the third time the disease would be reported in Nigeria. During the first incident in 2006, it took two years of serious containment efforts to see it off. Then followed twin incidents recorded in Kano and Lagos in 2015, which soon spread to 16 other states, before it was brought under control. Both instances resulted in massive culling of poultry products, affecting business in an industry estimated by the immediate past Minister of Agriculture, Akinwunmi Adesina, to be worth N700 billion.
Culling of infected birds remains the most effective way of containment once a case of Avian flu has been reported because it is spread by contact. Due to the colossal financial losses incurred by poultry farmers, the government has had to intervene with some compensation, which ran into N163 million in 2008, according to Mohammed Sa’Idu, the Component Coordinator, World Bank Health and Avian Influenza Control Project. About 1.6 million birds were also culled.
Avian flu infection occurs when there is close contact with the faeces, and secretions from the eye, nose and mouth of an infected bird. Commonest symptoms of the disease include respiratory distress and pneumonia; very high fever; runny nose; sore throat, headache; multi-organ disease; diarrhoea; abdominal pain and respiratory failure. Laboratory testing remains the most assured method of diagnosis.
Most importantly, at this point, there is the need to create awareness about the presence of the disease among poultry farmers, especially those in the rural areas of the country. Farmers should be quick to report any suspicion of cases of the disease, especially when the birds start dying rapidly. Whenever cases are reported, there should be no hesitation in killing off the birds by experts who are trained to perform that duty. It is also important to note that poultry products should be properly cooked before eating as the virus is known not to survive a very high degree of heat.
Avian flu, since its first human infection in Hong Kong in 1997, seems to have come to stay. Right now in Europe, there have been reports of avian flu outbreak in over 10 countries, including the United Kingdom. Nigeria’s position along the migratory routes of wild birds has not helped matters. But regular surveillance and working with veterinary officials will help to contain the spread whenever there is an outbreak of the disease.
