bird flu in nigeria
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Although no human infections have been reported, Nigerian authorities are concerned about a recent increase in poultry farms affected by bird flu.

As of Jan. 6, 299 farms have been affected in 28 states and the Federal Capital Territory, according to statistics from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Nigeria had been relatively free of avian influenza until January 2021. However, in recent weeks, outbreaks have been reported in four states (Lagos, Delta, Osun, and Bayelsa).

The National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) confirmed these outbreaks.

According to the data, 1,638,832 birds have been depopulated thus far. However, it is estimated that 2.01 million birds have been exposed to the disease. Also, as of last weekend, farmers have destroyed 118,779 crates of eggs.

This has caused devastating N484.12 million losses in Nigeria. The number is expected to rise as the disease continues to spread and cause further disruption.

The Director/Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr. Maimuna Abdullahi Habib, recently declared that bird flu has become a global endemic. This prompted a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, to evaluate a shift in the government's policy of "no vaccination to vaccination."

"We have met at regional and international levels, and we have decided that the government of Nigeria should change its policy from no vaccination to vaccination," said Habib, as reported by Daily Trust.

Vaccination, which has had remarkable success in containing the disease in other nations, is a crucial component in controlling bird flu in Nigeria, as stated by the Chief Veterinary Officer. She further added that the country does indeed have a lot of people on its border, which limits the migration of birds.

In areas like Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina, Jigawa, and Yobe, swift response teams are required, according to Habiba, because of the serious HPAI outbreak that has spread throughout the Niger Republic.

The Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr. Maimuna, had a high-level meeting with the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammed Mahmood Abubakar on Jan. 6 to discuss the possibility of reviewing the policy on control measures put in place by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) on the recent outbreak of bird flu.

Even though many farmers supported vaccination, others, such as Obasanjo Farms and Olam, expressed worry about abuse and the proper distribution of vaccines in the nation.

The experts also discussed the importance of adequate controls and procedures in the handling and administration of HPAI vaccinations.