Kogi state did not report Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) during the 2006-2008 outbreaks in Nigeria despite the presence of favourable factors for the occurrence of the disease, according to researchers at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria.

In a paper published in International Journal of Poultry Science, O.N. Ameji and colleagues describe a survey conducted among stakeholders using structured questionnaires to determine the level of awareness, knowledge and readiness to report outbreak of HPAI and biosecurity practices in Kogi state.

Awareness was 100 per cent but knowledge of HPAI was low at just 9.1 per cent. Readiness to report HPAI outbreak to relevant authorities was high at 75.3 per cent but about 20 per cent of respondents were not prepared to report to any authority.

Biosecurity practices evaluated by the presence of movement control was 38.8 per cent; presence of footbath was rare (11.8 per cent); handling of sick birds by isolation and treatment was 40 per cent; improper disposal of dead birds in refuse dump was high (85.9 per cent) and extensive management system was high (60.76 per cent).

The study revealed high level of awareness and readiness to report HPAI, commented the researchers but knowledge and biosecurity practices were poor. The failures in biosecurity measures as seen in this study will greatly enhance introduction and spread of HPAI as well as other contagious poultry diseases in the state.

Knowledge directly affects readiness to report hence efforts should be made to improve poultry stakeholders’ knowledge of HPAI and proper biosecurity practices.

Reference

Ameji O.N., P.A. Abdu, L. Sa’idu, J. Kabir and A. Assam. 2011. Awareness, knowledge, readiness to report outbreak and biosecurity practices towards highly pathogenic avian influenza in Kogi State, Nigeria. International Journal of Poultry Science, 11(1): 11-15.

Further Reading

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Further Reading

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You can visit the Avian Flu page by clicking here.