Response and Control Measures Against the Outbreak of the Highly Pathogenic Avian influenza in Nigeria

Abstract

In the face of the outbreak of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), caused by virus sub-type H5NI in 2006, the Govemment of Nigeria responded effectively and put some control measures in place. The response from the states, veterinary Teaching Hospitals poultry producers, law enforcement agencies and all Nigerians was encouraging. Out of 297 cases(samples) received from affected states of the country from January t0July,2006, 124 were positive constituting 41.8% of all the cases. The control measures put in place by the Government and its agencies which included stamping out and bio-security measures against HPAI in no small way helped in arresting the spread of the disease in Nigeria and keeping it out of many commercial poultry farms nation wide. Bio-security as the first line of defense against all Al viruses was put in place.