Field and laboratory findings of the first incursion of the Asian H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in Africa

Abstract

International audienceIn mid January 2006, an outbreak of avian influenza in domestic birds was recorded in Kaduna State, Nigeria. The virus responsible for the outbreak was characterised as a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 (A/chicken/Nigeria/641/06), belonging to the Qinghai lineage. The index case occurred in a premise containing mixed avian species including free-range birds. Clinical signs and mortality were observed in chickens, geese and ostriches. The present paper describes the clinical, pathological and virological findings of this outbreak