Descriptive epidemiology and economic impact of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Plateau State, Nigeria: a retrospect from 2015 to 2022

Abstract

In 2006, millions of poultry mortality was associated with high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) in Nigeria. The disease was brought under control from 2008 to 2014, then a resurgence in 2015. This study therefore aimed at investigating the occurrence, locations and seasonal conditions that facilitated HPAI outbreak and estimate its related economic losses in Plateau State, Nigeria, from 2015 to 2022.vThe HPAI data used were reported cases recorded by the Avian Influenza Desk office, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Plateau State. Number of farms, flock size, type of birds, year of cases reported and laboratory results as well as seasons of spread of the disease were extracted and utilized for this study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and zero inflated negative binomial for trend analysis. The highest number of HPAI cases was recorded in 2015, with 151 cases, accounting for 52.6 % of the total reported cases while the lowest number of cases was in 2019 with only two cases, representing 0.7% of the total cases. The peak prevalence occurred between February and March of the period of study, with a decline thereafter until December. Jos South LGAs had the highest number of positive results, followed by Jos North, while Mangu, Barkin-Ladi, and Wase LGAs had the lowest. An estimated loss of 130,481,135 eggs from a total mortality of 825,000 poultry birds in 304 farms translates to a cumulative economic loss of ₦ 6,023,401,525.00 ($ 4,068,441.94.00). The distribution of HPAI varied across different LGAs of the State. The study provided valuable insights into the epidemiology and the direct or indirect huge economic losses due to HPAI in Plateau State, Nigeria.