Stories from Grand Bassam · Cote d'Ivoire

An outbreak in Grand Bassam required the culling of at least 170,000 poultry birds. Local veterinarians report that biosecurity remains a weakness in the regional poultry sector. Specialists warn that current compensation for farmers is too low, causing hesitation to report new cases. While H5N1 is currently considered an imported threat, experts fear it could become endemic in Ivory Coast. The poultry sector currently supports approximately 300,000 people in the country. Current cases are considered imported, but there is a risk of the virus becoming established locally. Farmers are reportedly hesitant to report illnesses due to what they deem insufficient compensation. Conventional vaccines exist but may not be specific enough for emerging strains. mRNA technology offers the potential for rapid development and specificity.