G/SPS/GEN/1397  
 
16 March 2015  
(15-1475)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
 UPDATE ON THE AVIAN INFLUENZA SITUATION IN NIGERIA 
COMMUNICATION FROM NIGERIA 
The following communication, received on 11 March 2015, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Nigeria. 
 
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 1  AVIAN INFLUENZA RESURGENCE IN NIGERIA 
1.  Deaths of poultry birds were reported in a commercial farm in Dala Local Government Area 
(LGA) in Kano and also at a Live Bird Market (LBM) at Onipanu in Lagos around the festive 
December season in January 2015. Samples were promptly forwarded to National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), and disease was conf irmed at NVRI on 8 January 2015. The specific 
source of infection is not yet clear but investigation is on-going. 
2  IMMEDIATE ACTIONS TAKEN 2.  All State Directors of Veterinary Services  w e r e  p u t  o n  r e d  a l e r t .  T h e  O I E ,  A U - I B A R  a n d  
Development Partners were appropriately notified. A technical Committee on avian influenza (AI) 
was established and chaired by the Honourable Minister of Agriculture. The adopted control 
strategy is modified stamping out with farmer compensation. Vaccination remains an option but not in the current control strategy. Infected farms were quarantined, depopulated and 
decontaminated, with payment of compensation after appropriate certification. 
3  DISEASE SITUATION 3.  The number of infected States is now 18. The affected LGAs now stand at 71. The States 
affected are Kano, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Delta,  Plateau, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Bauchi, 
Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Anambra and Nassarawa States. 245 farms and 10 LBMs so far were positive. Kano has the highest number of infected farms (128) followed by Plateau (49). 83 human 
samples have so far been tested for AI virus. All were negative. 
4  LABORATORY UPDATE 4.  The total number of bird samples received by NVRI is 327, with 312 analyzed. Out of the 
312 samples, 255 tested positive to the virus, representing 244 farms, 10 LBM, and 1 zoological 
garden. The total number of human samples collected by the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) is 
66, with 52 samples analysed. No human samples have tested positive. 
5  ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT SITUATION 
5.  There are three states with only one outbreak (IM, GM, NA); 15 states with more than one 
outbreak; 35 LGAs with only one outbreak case; and 36 LGAs with more than one outbreak. G/SPS/GEN/1397 
 
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  6  DEPOPULATION AND CARCASS DISPOSAL AND DECONTAMINATION OF FARMS 
6.  The total number of depopulated birds stands at 845,136. Out of this, 100,000 birds belonging 
to 40 farmers have been approved for payment. Processing of payment on-going, with 35 account 
number details already collected. Outstanding compensation for depopulation, awaiting approval is 
N313,488 (for 60 farms). 
7  SUPPORT FROM DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS 7.  The World Bank is also making arrangements  to procure personal protective equipment (PPE) 
and disinfectants to the tune of N160 million to support depopulation of birds and decontamination 
of premises. 1,780 litres of (HI-7) disinfectants were received from the World Bank. USAID is 
supporting refresher training for AI for surveillan ce officers. FAO has donated sampling materials, 
PPE and equipment of the National Veterinary Research Laboratory to support diagnostic tests and 
sample analysis. The World Bank has approved $5 million to support AI control in Nigeria. USAID 
also plans to support depopulation and decontamination activities in Kano and Plateau that have recorded the highest outbreaks. 
8  CHALLENGES 
8.  The challenges faced include: 
 Lack of necessary inputs to implement the containment efforts in the States; 
 Inability to carry out detailed disease investigation, tracing back and forward of new cases 
to determine source of the disease; 
 Inability to carry out active disease surveillanc e to determine the extent of spread of the 
virus before its clinical manifestations in poultry species thereby being ahead of the virus' 
spread; 
 Ineffectiveness of on-farm quarantine meas ures and implementation of containment 
measures such as depopulation and decontamination; 
 Low risk perception amongst poultry farmers, poultry attendants, animal health service 
providers and the general public on the disease in the States; 
 Inability to effectively control movement of poultry and poultry products; and 
 Bureaucracies involved in approving items to be procured by Ministry and development 
partners led to delays which has a ffected efficacy of the control. 
9  FUTURE PLANS 9.  Plans for the future include the following: 
 Dealing with challenges; 
 Stepping up Sensitization and Farmer Education; 
 Increasing Active Surveillance; 
 Enhancing human capacity building; 
 Bridging funding gaps; 
 Strengthening State Veterinary Services; 
 Strengthening regional and international collaboration; 
 Increasing the Role of NGOs in disease reporting; and 
 Developing a National Strategic Pl an for Animal Disease Control. 
10  CONCLUSION 
10.  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 pr evention and control of its spread therefore 
becomes of great priority to Government and the international community. To avoid possible 
development of the pandemic more intensive cont rol 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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