Central Africa on high alert as bird flu sweeps region
The highly pathogenic bird flu, H5N1, is sweeping through west and central African nations. An avian flu outbreak detected in Cameroon has wiped nearly $20m off Cameroon's economy and raised concerns in neighbouring countries, particularly Nigeria, where the disease already claimed around 3.5 million birds. H5N1 has also reportedly been detected in Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Niger. The Food and Agricultural Organization, the World Health Organization and the World Organization for Animal Health are working closely to implement contingency plans and investigate potential cases and sources of infection.

Cameroon has become the latest African country to detect an outbreak of avian influenza (AI) and neighbouring countries – Nigeria, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of the Congo and Chad – fear for their poultry production.

Cameroon’s economy has lost close to $20m as a direct result of the H5N1 strain.

Nigeria is already reeling from a devastating bird flu crisis​ with 750 outbreaks that resulted in the deaths of 3.5m birds. Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Niger are also reported to have detected the H5N1 strain.

‘Devastating effects’​

The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) has warned that Cameroon fears the disease could be travelling southwards. International emergency responses have been triggered to contain the disease, with health screenings of poultry factory workers now under way in Cameroon.

“We’re looking at a quickly spreading disease that has devastating effects on livelihoods in communities,​” said Abebe Haile Gabriel, FAO deputy regional representative for Africa. “H5N1 causes major losses of nutritious food and threatens farmers’ livelihoods, particularly in resource-poor environments where governments have difficulty providing financial compensation for losses,​” he said, adding: “Trade restrictions often pose an additional hardship on already struggling economies.​”

H5N1​ is one of the most deadly strains of AI and has caused the death of tens of millions of poultry, wiping billions of dollars off businesses worldwide since the virus first spread in 2013.

The FAO is working closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) to put in place contingency plans for the virus. Investigations into potential AI cases and the source of infection are also under way.