Abstract
The dissemination and maintenance of AIV in wild birds is important for understanding the factors that contribute to transmission of AIV from wild birds to poultry. This study examined the impact of Avian flu on the consumption of chicken and egg among university of Ilorin staff, in Ilorin, Kwara state, Nigeria. A survey was conducted by interviewing 110 University of Ilorin staff. Information was collected on the same economic characteristics of the respondents, income and consumption of chicken and eggs. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results revealed that Avian flu outbreaks and spread in Nigeria have caused serious threat to the poultry industry, the food security and livelihoods of urban communities. It was also noted that there was a decline in consumers’ confidence in poultry product (e.g chicken and egg) as indicated by the respondents. Perception of people about avian flu pandemic indicates 90% of respondents perceived it as deadly, incurable and easily transmissible disease and that was why 77.27% of the sampled households were found to have stopped or drastically reduced the consumption of poultry products for the fear of being infected by the disease. The research conclude that since most of people perceived avian influenza as deadly disease, government enact measures to prevent the virus from spreading and to reduce the risk of infection and ban on transporting poultry in the area where bird flu has occurred. Keywords: avian virus, wild birds, domestic poultry, egg, chicken
Highlights
Livestock sub-sector of the agricultural sector of which poultry production is a component provides animal protein for the people (FMANR, 2001)
Weeks & Nicol (2006) noted that Chicken meat and eggs are the best source of quality protein, and are badly needed by the many millions of people who live in poverty in many African countries
Most studies of Avian Influenza Viruses (AIVs) have concentrated on anseriforms and to a lesser extent on charadriiforms, which are known to be reservoirs for low pathogenic AIV strains (LPAI) (Olsen et al, 2006)
Summary
Livestock sub-sector of the agricultural sector of which poultry production is a component provides animal protein for the people (FMANR, 2001). There are many diseases that affect poultry in general and chicken in particular. These include bacterial, fungal and viral diseases. Most studies of AIV have concentrated on anseriforms and to a lesser extent on charadriiforms, which are known to be reservoirs for LPAI (Olsen et al, 2006). In their synthesis of wild bird low pathogenic avian influenza surveillance worldwide, Olsen et al(2006) found that out of more than 90 000 birds sampled, 54% were anseriforms and 25% charadriiforms
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