Nigeria Reports Highly Pathogenic Avian Flu in Chicken Flock
NIGERIA - An outbreak of H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza has been reported in a mixed backyard chicken flock in the northern state of Kano.The veterinary authority sent an Immediate Notification dated 9 January to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
According to the report, the outbreak started on 2 January at Karna in the district of Dala in Kano state in the north of the country. Of the backyard flock of 1,568 birds - comprising 22-week-old layers, 10-week-old growers and four-week-old broilers - 1,370 died and the rest were destroyed.
The source of infection is unknown.
The area is under quarantine but vaccination is prohibited and no treatment is administered to affected animals.
The presence of an H5 variant of the virus has been confirmed.
The last outbreak of avian flu in Nigeria was in July 2008.