The capital city of Niger, Niamey, has been declared an infected zone after a fresh outbreak of the H5N1 strain of bird flu was detected in local birds.
The virus can cause life-threatening sickness in several species of birds including poultry and wild birds.
Humans in frequent contact with birds can also become infected. Symptoms can include fever, aching muscles, headache, and a cough or shortness of breath.
Key safety measure to prevent the spread of the illness are:
- washing hands either with soap and running water, or using alcohol hand rubs
- separating raw meat from cooked or ready-to-eat foods
- cooking food thoroughly, and handling and storing meat safely
According to ActuNiger, over the past two years there have been several outbreaks of H5N1 in Niger, which is classified as a “notifiable zoonotic animal disease”.