Assessment of the economic and social implications of the avian flu outbreak on the Nigerian poultry industry

Abstract

As a result of the debut incursion of the avian influenza virus into Nigeria in January 2006, severe outbreaks occurred in a number of poultry farms leading to widespread fears and a lot of apprehension. The objectives of the study were to assess, document and highlight the economic and social implications of the disease outbreaks on the Nigerian poultry industry as well as recommend measures for its effective control. The review covered ten (10) states of the country as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Nigeria. The results revealed that the avian influenza virus affected a total of 158 poultry farms located in 10 of the 36 states including the FCT Abuja. An estimated total of Seven hundred and three thousand, four hundred and thirty (703,430) poultry were lost, out of which 288,662 (41.06%) died, while 414,403 (58.94%) poultry were slaughtered. Estimated revenue loss in naira (the official Nigerian currency) amounted to Seven hundred and three million, sixty-five thousand naira (N703,065,000). Globally, between 1983-2004, a total of Sixty million, six thousand and one (61,006,001) birds were lost. Estimated revenue loss globally within the period also amounted to One billion, one hundred million Euros (E1.100,000,000) in addition to Three hundred and fifty million dollars ($350,000,000). Increased surveillance, close monitoring, improved sanitation, quarantine of poultry farms as currently being carried out will reduce the scourge of the disease infection in Nigeria.

KEYWORDS: Assessment, Economic, Social Implications, Avian Flu, Nigerian Poultry.