G/SPS/GEN/1475  
 
8 March 2016  
(16-1320)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
 UPDATE ON THE AVIAN INFLUENZA SITUATION 
STATEMENT BY NIGERIA AT THE SIXTY-FIFT H REGULAR MEETING OF THE SPS COMMITTEE 
The following communication, received on 1 March 2016, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Nigeria. 
 
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 Members will recall that in October last year, Nigeria presented an update to the Committee on the situation of avian influenza in Nigeria in accordance with article 6 of the SPS Agreement.
1 We wish 
to update the Committee on the status of the disease in Nigeria and the measures so far taken to 
address the problem in the affected states in Nigeria. 
1  DISEASE SITUATION 
1.1.  Nigeria experienced a sharp rise in the number of outbreaks in months of January and 
February with over 45 outbreaks in January alon e. The number of farms affected now stands at 
649 compared with 474 farms reported in October 2015. The number of States in Nigeria that 
have recorded outbreaks now stands at 25 States, up from the 21 States reported in October while 
the affected LGAs involved are now 117 up from the 84 reported at last meeting. So far, the total number of birds depopulated is now 2,925,524 in 649 farms and one zoological garden compared 
with 1,558,201 in 474 farms and one zoological garden reported in October 2015. Thirty isolates of 
the virus is currently undergoing gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis at the National 
Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) to generate more information on the virus. 
2  ACTIONS TAKEN 
2.1.  All outbreaks have been duly notified to the relevant international organizations and 
measures taken to control the disease under the modified stamping–out policy of the Government. 
Depopulation and decontamination inputs have been supplied to all the affected States. The 
Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development has also signed a regulation to control 
movement of poultry and poultry products from in fected to non-infected States. This is being 
gazetted by the legal unit. The International deve lopment partners have assisted with the supply 
of depopulation and decontamination inputs for th e control of the disease. Out of the 647 farms so 
far affected, 276 farms have been paid a total N710 million ($3.55m) as compensation while the 
remaining the 173 farms with a total of N543 millio n ($2,75m) is still outstanding. The National 
Veterinary Services with the support of the FAO has also reviewed its Emergency Preparedness 
Plan on Avian Influenza in line with global best practice and to further strengthen the national 
control strategy for the disease. Zoning, compartmentalization or regionalization is currently not being implemented in Nigeria. 
3  OTHER RELATED ACTIVITIES 
3.1.  Nigeria is participating in a World Bank a ssisted Regional Disease Surveillance and Response 
Project in West Africa to mitigate the risks posed by infectious and zoonotic diseases (both animal 
and human) by addressing the weaknesses in th e country health systems. The project would 
address systemic weaknesses within the animal and human health sector that hinder effective 
                                               
1 Documents G/SPS/GEN/1397 and G/SPS/GEN/1441. G/SPS/GEN/1475 
 
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  disease surveillance and response and ultimately contribute towards significantly reducing the 
burden of diseases particularly among the poor an d vulnerable populations, mitigating the public 
health and economic risks posed by infectious diseases in humans and animals, and decreasing the threats of future disease outbreaks thereby promoting global health security. 
3.2.  It is hoped that disease surveillance within the animal health sector which has been a major 
constraint mitigating against effective control of the avian influenza disease outbreak and other transboundary diseases would ultimately be strengthened under the programme. 
4  CONCLUSION 
4.1.  The resurgence of avian influenza in Nigeria, in Africa is a matter of great concern for the 
nation, the region and indeed the world. The prev ention and control of its spread should be of 
priority to national governments and the internat ional community, especially the WTO, in view of 
the trade implications. To avoid possible developmen t of endemic situations in affected countries 
as well as the possibility of human infection, more intensive control and surveillance activities are needed. The support of national and regional governments as well as international development 
agencies and private sector is urgently needed. 
 
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