September

Togo – Avian Influenza (near Lome)
9 Sep 2008
Associated Press (AP) [edited] [Promed]
An outbreak of bird flu has been confirmed in the West African nation of Togo for the first time since last year [2007], the Health Ministry said Tuesday [9 Sep 2008]. The virus was detected at a poultry farm housing more than 4500 birds in the village of Agbata outside the capital, Lome, said a ministry statement. It was not known how many birds died, but more than 80 percent of those infected by the flu were fatalities, the ministry said.The statement did not say whether the birds were infected with the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus. It is also reported that the Health Ministry banned the sale of all chicken and poultry products in the region around the farm.
Related stories
15 Sep 2008 - Recent bird flu outbreak is deadly H5N1
International Herald Tribune (IHT), Associated Press (AP) report [edited] [Promed]
According to this story, Togo state television says lab tests performed after a recent outbreak of bird flu have confirmed the presence of the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus, which has the potential to infect humans. It is also reported that no human cases have been detected so far in Togo, however. The story goes on by stating that the lab tests were carried out by experts in Ghana and Italy after the outbreak was discovered last week [week of 8 Aug 2008] among several thousand birds in Agbata outside the capital, Lome.

August

Benin - Highly pathogenic avian influenza
27 Aug 2008
OIE WAHID Disease Information 2008; 21(35) [edited] [Promed]
Summary
Report type : immediate notification
Start date : 29 Jul 2008
Date of first confirmation of the event: 13 Aug 2008
Reason for notification: reoccurrence of a listed disease
Date of previous occurrence : May 2008
Causal agent : highly pathogenic avian influenza virus
Serotype: H5
Nature of diagnosis : laboratory (advanced)
This event pertains to the whole country
New outbreaks
Outbreak 1 Lokossa market, Lokossa,
Date of start of the outbreak : 29 Jul 2008
Outbreak status : continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit : not applicable
Species: birds
Susceptible: 2
Cases: 2
Deaths: 0
Destroyed: 0
Slaughtered: 0
Affected population: live chickens purchased at the market in Lokossa as part of the routine surveillance and of the training of managers and other laboratory officials on bio-molecular techniques at the Veterinary Laboratory of Parakou.

Nigeria - New bird flu strain detected
12 August 2008
Joyonline [EatSafe Ghana]
A new strain of avian influenza never before reported in Africa has been identified in Nigeria, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has announced. According to this story, tests conducted by Nigeria and by the FAO show that the new virus strain – which is similar to strains identified last year in Italy, Afghanistan and Iran – is genetically distinct from other forms detected in Nigeria in 2006 and 2007. "It seems unlikely that wild birds have carried the strain to Africa, since the last migration of wild birds from Europe and Central Asia to Africa occurred in September 2007 and this year's southerly migration into Africa has not really started yet," said the International Wildlife Coordinator of FAO's Animal Health Service. He pointed to other avenues the virus could have taken to Nigeria, such as international trade or illegal and unreported movement of poultry. The FAO called for stepped up surveillance to monitor the virus and keep track of its spread.

July

Nigeria – Avian Influenza report from the OIE – (Katsina, Kano, Kebbi, Gombe)
28 Jul 2008
OIE WAHID interface [edited] [Promed]
Report type : Immediate notification
Start date : 22 Jul 2008
Date of first confirmation of the event: 24 Jul 2008
Reason for notification: Reoccurrence of a listed disease
Date of previous occurrence : 09 Jan 2008
Causal agent : Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus
Serotype: H5N1
Nature of diagnosis: Laboratory (advanced)
This event pertains to the whole country
Outbreak 1 : Kadarko quarters, Katsina, KATSINA
Date of start of the outbreak: 22 Jul 2008
Outbreak status : Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit : Farm
Affected animals
Species/ Susceptible/ Cases/ Deaths/ Destroyed/ Slaughtered Birds/ 110/ 31/ 31/ 79/ 0
Affected population : A small backyard flock with mixed species of local chickens, Guinea fowls and ducks
Outbreak 2: Fagen Kawo, Dawakin Tofa, KANO
Date of start of the outbreak : 22 Jul 2008
Outbreak status : Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit: Farm
Affected animals
Species/ Susceptible/ Cases/ Deaths/ Destroyed/ Slaughtered Birds / 4253/ 1514/ 1514/ 2739/0
Affected population: A commercial backyard poultry flock, but the owner keeps few ducks within the premises
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection : Unknown or inconclusive
Epidemiological comments : Detailed investigation is on-going, but information so far indicates the introduction of new species into the existing flock as the possible cause of the outbreak
Measures applied
-Quarantine
-Disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s)
-Modified stamping out
-Vaccination prohibited
-No treatment of affected animals
Measures to be applied
-Movement control inside the country
-Screening
Future Reporting The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.
Related stories
11 Aug 2008 -Avian Influenza
Stackyard News [edited] [Promed]
A strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza [HPAI] previously not recorded in sub-Saharan Africa has been detected in Nigeria for the 1st time, FAO [UN Food & Agriculture Organization] said today [11 Aug 2008]. It is reported that Nigeria has recently reported 2 new highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in the states of Katsina and Kano. According to this story, laboratory results from Nigeria and an FAO reference laboratory in Italy show that the newly discovered virus strain is genetically different from the strains that circulated in Nigeria during earlier outbreaks in 2006 and 2007. The new strain has never been reported before in Africa; it is more similar to strains previously identified in Europe (Italy), Asia (Afghanistan), and the Middle East (Iran) in 2007.

March

Ghana – Avian Influenza
March 18, 2008
Meet the press 2008 – Hon Ernest Debrah , Minister of Food and Agriculture
www.ghana.gov.gh
The outbreak of Avian Influenza was the major animal health challenge in the year 2007. The outbreak occurred in 3 districts/municipalities in 3 regions namely Tema and Sunyani Municipal Assemblies and Ketu District. Eight (8) farms were directly affected and 19,582 birds destroyed. As a control measure 56,790 birds on 9 farms not affected by Avian Influenza were also destroyed. In addition a total of 193,903 eggs were destroyed. The government has so far paid GH ¢160,000 as compensation to the affected farmers. Ghana is indeed on record for being the only African country that has so effectively and efficiently controlled the Avian Influenza outbreak effectively and rapidly. For this achievement, we are grateful to acknowledge the role played by our development partners.
News source provided by EatSafe Ghana "eatsafeghana@gmail.com”

February

Nigeria – Avian Influenza
11 Feb 2008
Daily Trust (Abuja) via AllAfrica.com [edited]
[I]n a bid to ensure the control of the disease among humans and mass death of birds, the federal government established avian influenza crisis management comprising of federal ministries of information, health and agriculture to coordinate and disseminate information regarding prevention and control of the disease in Nigeria.

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