Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus H5N1 in Africa : Current Situation and Control Prospects

Since it first appeared in poultry in Scotland in 1959, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 has greatly impacted the global poultry industry and public health. In less than seventy years, it has spread to ninety-six countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, and America. In Africa, the first cases were reported in Nigeria in 2006. Since then, the virus has spread rapidly to around twenty African countries, becoming enzootic and raising concerns for public health. This study aims to present a review of the recent literature on HPAI H5N1 in Africa in order to contribute to understand of its epidemiology and to explore strategies for prevention, preparedness, and control of a future panzootic. The diagnosis of H5N1 HPAI in the laboratory is based on the identification and characterisation of the virus. With advances in science and technology, new rapid and less expensive diagnostic tests have been developed. However, some of these tests cross-react with H5 viruses. In Africa, efforts are still needed to better equip laboratories for the diagnosis of avian influenza. Despite the controversy surrounding the role of vaccination in controlling outbreaks of HPAI H5N1 in poultry, recent studies have shown that vaccination plays an effective role when there is a high degree of antigenic similarity between vaccine strains and wild strains. The decision to use poultry vaccination as a means of controlling the H5N1 HPAI virus is guided by the epidemiological and socio-economic context of each country.