PARIS -- A "highly pathogenic" strain of the H5N1 bird flu virus has been found in poultry stocks in Nigeria-- the first reported case of the disease in Africa, the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health said Wednesday.
Nigeria reported the outbreak in Jaji, a village in the northern Kaduna state, according to the organization known by the acronym OIE. OIE spokeswoman Maria Zampaglione said the outbreak was the first reported case of H5N1 in Africa.
A laboratory in Padova, Italy, identified "a highly pathogenic H5N1" and has further analyzed its genetic composition. Investigations are being carried out in order to define the degree of genetic homology with the currently known H5N1 strains," said the statement.
Nigerian authorities have introduced quarantine measures and controls on the movement of animals and disinfected the infected farm, said the OIE.
I'm not sure about the lab in Italy, but I'm assuming for now they're credible and it really is the highly-pathogenic virus we've been keeping an eye on. No human cases reported so far, but the report claims a "team of experts" is heading there and I'm sure that's one thing they'll be on the lookout for.
ETA: this is interesting, just off the ProMed list:
An outbreak of avian influenza was reported in Jaji, Igabi, Kaduna State, in a poultry layers commercial farm in which ostriches and geese were also kept.
Date of first confirmation of the event: 6 February 2006.
Date of start of the event: 10 January 2006.
Total number of susceptible animals in the outbreak: 46,000 (poultry).
Number of cases: 42,000.
Number of deaths: 40,000.
Source of outbreak or origin of infection: unknown or inconclusive.
So it seems this outbreak started over a month ago...wonder if there are other outbreaks in the area (or in other African countries) that just haven't made news yet?
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Hi, Tara. When I first saw this report, I assumed that this was the same H5N1 strain that emerged in southeast Asia. Is it possible that this is an entirely new strain that has emerged independently? I realize that with migratory birds, etc., the virus could jump from Asia or Europe to Africa, but it strikes me as odd that it would appear first all the way down in Nigeria (unless, of course, other outbreaks have gone unidentified).
Hi Scott,
It appears they're looking at that now--that's what the fourth paragraph describes. I'd assume it's a very similar one. Theoretically, an unrelated H5N1 could appear, but it's unlikely.
As far as appearing in Nigeria first, hard to say. this BBC article shows some of the main flyways in that region, and as you mention, they express the greatest worry about parts of eastern Africa. Could be that we're missing it; could be that there are other factors I'm not aware of that might affect the spread in that area. Wish I knew.
(ETA: wrote this just prior to updating the post above).
Tara said:
I notice the East Africa/West Asia Flyway goes pretty much directly between Turkey and Nigeria, intervening in only Lybia and Niger (maybe north-western Egypt). Perhaps there have been outbreaks in those too and they haven't been noticed for whatever reason or they've been noted but not reported. Or maybe they simply haven't any outbreaks yet.
A more complete global map of migratory bird flyways can be seen HERE.