08.02.2006

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. Note by the OIE Animal Health Information Department: highly pathogenic avian influenza has never been reported before in Nigeria. A copy of test results received on 7 February 2006 from the OIE Reference Laboratory for avian influenza and Newcastle disease in Padova, Italy, confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H5N1 (OIE). This is the first report of H5N1 in Africa.