BIRD FLU SPREADS TO SOUTHWEST NIGERIA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 001133

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

USDA FAS WASHDC FOR FAA/ RANDY HAGER
USDA FOR OSEC/WAYNE MOLSTAD
USDA FOR APHIS/JOHN SHAW

FROM OFFICE OF AGRICULTURAL AFFAIRS, LAGOS

E.O. 12958, N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU EAID AMED EAGR NI AVIANFLU

SUBJECT: BIRD FLU SPREADS TO SOUTHWEST NIGERIA

REF: ABUJA 1791

LAGOS 00001133 001.2 OF 002



1. (SBU) Summary. The H5N1 avian influenza (AI) virus is
spreading at an alarming rate in Southwest Nigeria, the
region which accounts for about 80 percent of poultry
production in Nigeria. President Obasanjo's poultry farm in
Ota, Ogun State, reportedly has been severely affected. Many
Poultry operators and government officials are deliberately
withholding information about the spread of the disease to
avoid negative consumer reaction. The federal government
continues to declare victory against AI despite contrary
facts on the ground. In Lagos State alone, the virus has
spread to several local government areas, affecting
approximately forty small- to medium-scale farmers. The
situation is the same in neighboring Ogun, Oyo and Osun
States. End summary.


2. (SBU) After several months of widespread reports of the
avian influenza in Northern Nigeria, the disease is now
prevalent in Southwest Nigeria, which accounts for about 80
percent of commercial poultry production in the country.
According to the Lagos State chapter of the Poultry
Association of Nigeria, an estimated 1 million birds have
been lost to the virus in the state in the past two months,
with half of the losses occurring between August 8 and
August 20, 2006. The situation is the same in the
neighboring Southwestern states of Oyo, Ogun and Osun.
Reportedly, the disease has visited President Obasanjo's
poultry farm in Ota, Ogun State, one of the largest
operations in the state, according to industry contacts.
Although there has not been any laboratory confirmation of
H5N1 on the president's farm, high mortality was reported on
the farm and all live birds at the farm have either been
sold or removed to other locations in the state.


3. (U) Generally, Nigerian poultry farmers conceal and sell
off stocks rather than report the flu to the authorities.
This is because the compensation of 250 naira per bird
promised by the Federal Government is considered inadequate,
and payment is slow. In addition, affected farmers complain
that state and federal government authorities lack even the
most basic resources such as transportation and manpower to
mount a meaningful response. In most cases, by the time the
disease is confirmed, all the birds at a farm would have
died of the disease. The GON only compensates farmers for
birds depopulated, not those killed by the disease.
Industry contacts report that farmers quickly sell off their
flocks to avoid loses when they begin to experience high
mortality rates, regardless of the type of illness. Major
market locations within Lagos State are also recording high
mortality rates.


4. (U) Poultry farmers under the umbrella of the Poultry
Association of Nigeria appealed to the GON to increase the
level of compensation and to assist affected farmers to
restock. In the meantime, several farmers in the region
have vaccinated their flocks in contravention of GON's
directive not to vaccinate. The poultry industry and the
government continue to show no interest in informing the
public about the dire situation. We have recently talked to
the Lagos State Agricultural Commissioner about the need to
inform the public. The Commissioner promised to initiate
information campaign alerting the public in the coming days.


5. (U) The federal government finally established
compensation coordinators at the state level to implement a
$9 million "relief" program as part of the $50 million World
Bank loan for Nigeria. The new compensation guidelines will
consider the cost of production as the basis for
compensation rather than using a fixed price. Therefore, the
compensation price is expected to vary based on the type of
breed and operation (layers, broilers, etc.).

LAGOS 00001133 002.2 OF 002




6. (SBU) In a conversation with the AgAttache on August 22,
the Lagos State Veterinary Service and the GON's Chief
Veterinary Officer (CVO) acknowledged the magnitude of the
problem and the states' overwhelming needs for assistance
from the federal government. The Lagos State poultry
association is planning to organize several workshops on
biosecurity in cooperation with state and federal offices,
but has no plans to undertake a high- profile public
campaign. Lagos State veterinary offices report that none of
the workers examined by health authorities have tested
positive for AI, but details as to how many farms were
visited and when remain sketchy.


7. (U) On August 19, 2006, post received a written request
for technical assistance on AI from the CVO. The request was
forwarded to USDA Washington for consideration. The CVO and
representatives from the Poultry Association of Nigeria are
planning to attend the National Poultry Improvement Plan
Conference in Portland, Oregon, September 7-9, 2006. The CVO
is scheduled to also visit the USDA/APHIS Emergency Center
in Riverdale, Maryland on September 11-12 to consult with
USDA officials.
Browne