The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has confirmed human cases of Avian Influenza H5N1 also called “Bird flu.” in seven states in the country.
The NCDC Director-General, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, on Tuesday in Abuja, while providing highlights of the epidemiological situation and response activities in Nigeria.
The affected states are Kano, Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Niger.
Ihekweazu said as of March 24, 2021, the seven states reported outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) cases (H5N1) in poultries.
“Health National Rapid Response Team (RRT) from NCDC and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture were deployed to Bauchi, Kano and Plateau States.
“A total of 83 human samples were received and 64 (87.7 per cent) samples were tested. Of the tested samples, seven (10.9 per cent) were positive for Flu A, six 85.7 per cent were subtype A/H5 while one 14.3 per cent was unsub-typable,” he explained.
The NCDC boss said official notification about the outbreak had been conveyed to the World Health Organisation (WHO) as required by the International Health Regulations (IHR).
Ihekweazu disclosed that an official report had also been sent to the authorities at both the Federal level and the affected states.
“Avian influenza outbreak Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) at level 1 has been activated at national and in two states (Plateau and Gombe).
