A review of the avian influenza control strategies in Nigeria: a case study of the epidemiological unit of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture Enugu State, 2015-2017

Abstract

Introduction: avian influenza, (AI) is a disease with economic importance and zoonotic potentials. Outbreak of Highly pathogenic avian influenza, H5N1 in Nigeria, in 2006 and its resurgence 2015, about 4.7 million poultry chicken was affected with over $9billion paid in compensation. The control policy for AI in Nigeria, has been applied in containment of AI, however, there was paucity of information on its scientific application as a control strategy. The purpose of this study was to describe the AI control policy, its challenges, with a view to providing information necessary for public health action. Methods: we reviewed policies on the control of avian influenza by the food and agricultural organization, (FAO) and Office of international epizootics, (OIE), case reports on control of avian influenza in Enugu State. We defined the case definition for avian influenza, described specific AI control strategies, challenges encountered in the control of AI in Enugu State, Nigeria. Results: outbreak of AI was reported in 3 local government areas (LGA) in Enugu State, between 2015-2017, (Igbo Etiti, Nkanu West, and Udi). Strategies employed in the control of AI was Quarantine measures, depopulation of infected poultry, disinfections of farms premises, equipment´s, contact tracing, and compensation of affected farmers. In all 127,493 poultry chicken was affected by outbreak of avian influenza, of these 29,429(23%) poultry chicken died due to the outbreak, 98,064(76.9%), was humanely slaughtered (depopulated), and over $167,000 paid in compensation. Conclusion: the AI control strategy was applied in containment of avian influenza in Enugu state Nigeria, between 20152017. However, this study reported that compensation of poultry farmers may contribute to attempts to inflate poultry flock size affected during outbreak as a mean to get more compensation claims, we also found out that compensating affected farmer´s does not necessarily prevent sale of infected poultry to unsuspecting poultry farmers. Consequently, we recommend that the compensation policy for avian influenza should bediscontinued. Alternatively, the poultry value chain in Nigeria should re-direct its focus on prevention of outbreak rather than control. Enforce strict regulation on transport of poultry and poultry products, maintenance of biosecurity routine and structures on the farms should be made a prerequisite for registration and operation of poultry farm in Nigeria. A structured and dedicated live bird market should be constructed in each state to separate poultry business from other market activities, this may reduce risk of outbreak of poultry disease, Zoonoses and emergence of reassortants influenza strains.