WattAgNet: Highly pathogenic avian influenza returns to Cameroon

Country’s poultry industry calls for support

After an absence of about three months and just as poultry markets were reopening, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has returned to Cameroon.

This month, Business in Cameroon reported that details were being finalized by the Ministry of Livestock and the national poultry association (Interprofession avicole du Cameroun; Ipavic) for the second International Poultry Fair in the capital city, Yaoundé.

It was hoped that the event would revitalize the industry after the previous HPAI outbreaks, which appeared to be over. Economic losses from the disease at that time were estimated at XOF10 billion (US$17.1 million), and Ipavic called for 20,000 metric tons of corn, two million day-old chicks and XOF450 million (US$767,000) to help the sector return to production.

Cameroon had not reported any HPAI for a decade until May this year, when one outbreak caused by the H5N1 virus variant was confirmed at a farm in Yaoundé. According to official figures reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), there were 17 outbreaks affecting more than 68,000 poultry in May and early June, affecting five regions, including the Western region, which is the center of the country’s poultry sector. Subsequent surveillance had revealed no more cases.

That was until the last week of August, when the veterinary authority confirmed a new HPAI outbreak near Bafoussam in the Western region. After reports of unusually high mortality at a farm, the infection was confirmed. A total of 34,400 breeders and replacement layers died or have been destroyed.