NIGERIA: Nigeria starts destroys poultry, fearful famers call on government help to prevent them from losing livelihoods

Record ID: 236528

  • Title: NIGERIA: Nigeria starts destroys poultry, fearful famers call on government help to prevent them from losing livelihoods
  • Date: 10th February 2006
  • Summary: GOOSE WALKING AROUND ON FARM
  • Embargoed: 25th February 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nigeria
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Topics: Health,Industry
  • Reuters ID: LVA1CL2BLU3NAJD0JOPNF7LKACS5
  • Story Text: The epicentre of Africa outbreak of the deadly H5N1 avian flu: Sambawa Farms in northern Nigeria.
    This is a large commercial bird farm, very different from the millions of small farmer in villages across the continent. The farm breeds birds ranging from ostriches, to chickens, to ducks.
    And on Thursday (February 9), a day after the outbreak of bird flu was confirmed, many of the farms' birds have been destroyed, their burnt carcasses lying where they were killed.
    But many other birds are still walking around on the farm, raising questions as to just how comprehensive Nigeria's reaction to the virus will be.
    Small poultry farmers close to where the deadly H5N1 avian flu virus was detected said on Thursday birds were dying in large numbers and they did not know why.
    Nigeria is the first country on the continent to report an outbreak of a virus that is endemic in poultry in parts of Asia and has killed at least 88 people since late 2003. The unexplained poultry deaths raise the possibility that the virus has already spread from four big commercial farms to small farms and even households in Africa's most populous country, posing a greater threat to human health.
    In the commercial capital, Lagos, poultry farmers say they are extremely worried, not only at the health implications of the outbreak, but also for their future. They worry about what will happen if a widespread culls are ordered across the country. Nigeria says it has put aside some 15 million U.S. dollars to compensate farmers, but farmers worry it will not be enough.
    "Workers would lose their jobs. Business will no longer be as usual. We are now calling on government to do something very fast to make sure that this disease is eradicated," said poultry farmer Christian Ozara.
    The Agriculture Ministry said 45,000 chickens had died at Sambawa Farms in Kaduna state, and confirmed cases of H5N1 had also been found at two farms in the neighbouring Kano state and at one farm in Plateau state, which also borders Kaduna.
    The outbreak could have devastating consequences in Nigeria, where millions keep chickens in their backyards.
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