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Ivory Coast reports a new outbreak of avian flu after five years of calm
Creation date: April 20, 2026, 10:15 AM
(Ecofin Agency) - Avian influenza is one of the most devastating viral diseases affecting birds and poultry farming worldwide. In West Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, which aims to consolidate the progress of its poultry sector, is facing a resurgence of the disease.
Ivory Coast has declared an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a poultry farm in Koun-Fao, a town located in the east-central part of the country, in the Gontougo region. The information was reported on April 16 by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), based on a report from Ivorian authorities.
According to the report submitted to the WHO, the infection, whose origin remains undetermined, caused the death of approximately 95,000 poultry on the farm. The identified strain, the H5N1 virus, is known for its virulence and its ability to cause high mortality rates in both commercial and village farms.
A comeback after five years without a major announcement
This new outbreak comes after a period of relative calm. Côte d'Ivoire had not reported a major outbreak of avian influenza since 2021, the year in which cases were detected in Grand-Bassam. This was followed by an epizootic that led to the culling of more than 600,000 poultry and resulted in an estimated financial loss of over 3 billion CFA francs (US$5.37 million).
Prior to this, the country had already faced several waves, notably in 2015, with significant health impacts on livestock and preventive culling measures that affected more than 200,000 birds, according to the FAO.
Beyond the direct economic losses in the operation concerned, the reappearance of the virus in 2026 could lead to other immediate consequences, including additional costs related to health measures such as disinfection and monitoring, or a disruption of local supply chains with the restriction of movement.
Further developments will determine whether this reported outbreak of avian influenza is an isolated case or the beginning of an epizootic that could hinder the growth observed in the Ivorian poultry sector. In Côte d'Ivoire, the size of the poultry population has almost tripled over the last decade, increasing from 57.46 million birds to an estimated 149.17 million birds in 2024, according to official statistics.
Stéphanas Assocle
Edited by Wilfried ASSOGBA
https://www.agenceecofin.com/actual...-de-grippe-aviaire-apres-cinq-ans-d-accalmie
