Poultry Production and the Risk of Zoonotic Diseases in Kubwa District of Bwari Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Nigeria

The study assessed the biosecurity measure and risk of zoonotic disease from poultry production in Kubwa, Abuja. As a result of increasing human population and the need to meet food protein requirement, there has been corresponding increase in poultry production in recent time, with most of the poultry farms lacking basic biosecurity measures, hence likely to expose farmers and the general population to risk of zoonotic disease outbreak. A descriptive study design was adopted and purposive sampling technique was used to select sixteen (16) poultry farms with bird population of fifty or more as well as thirty-two (32) farmers aged 18-65 years. Spatial location coordinates were established using hand-held Global Positioning System Garmin GPSMAP 76 device to establish proximity of each farm in relation to built-up areas, while field observation, and questionnaire were used to obtain data for the study. Data obtained was analyzed using spatial epidemiological Geographic Information System Software and descriptive statistics; and the results were presented in percentages, tables, and charts as well as the map of geo-coordinates of poultry farms locations. The results revealed that 44% of the farms were located within ten meter radius of residential buildings and no farm was situated within the 500 meter radius bench mark established for the study. The use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was none-existence as 45% of the farmers claimed to use them, while field observations proved otherwise. The use of disinfectants was dismally low as 56% of farmers never use disinfectant in their farms. Poor poultry waste management was also amplified as 37% of poultry waste was dumped in drainage and surface water bodies. The study concluded that the risk of outbreak of zoonotic diseases was high in the area. It is recommended that the Abuja Environmental Protection Board should issue and enforce regulations on proper siting of poultry farms within the city, while Agriculture Extension Workers should be empowered to monitor and train poultry farmers to adopt biosecurity measures in their farms.