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Fowl pox, a highly contagious poultry disease, is causing fresh concern among farmers, especially those keeping indigenous chicken breeds. Experts warn that the disease is spreading rapidly this rainy season, with kienjeji chickens worst affected because most are not vaccinated.
According to veterinary officers, fowl pox rarely affects broilers but is common during periods when flies, mosquitoes, and other biting insects are in large numbers. The disease is spread mainly by biting or sucking insects that carry the fowl pox virus from one bird to another. Infection can also happen when healthy birds come into direct contact with sick ones, particularly through broken skin, or when they inhale or ingest the virus.
The disease affects various types of birds, including chickens, turkeys, ducks, pheasants, and even wild birds. Infected birds often show visible signs such as warts or blisters on the skin, especially around the head, wattles, comb, back, and legs. This form of the disease, known as cutaneous fowl pox, usually heals on its own within two weeks without treatment.
However, there is a more dangerous type called diphtheritic fowl pox. In this case, the lesions appear inside the bird’s mouth, throat, and sometimes along the respiratory tract. In rare situations, the disease can spread to internal organs like the liver and kidneys. This type can cause high death rates, sometimes killing up to half of an infected flock, especially if the birds fail to recover within two weeks.
Farmers have complained of poor growth rates in young birds and a sharp drop in egg production in layers when the disease strikes. Infected birds often stop eating completely, become weak, lose weight, and eventually die if not managed early.
Veterinary experts stress the importance of early detection. They say farm workers should be trained to look out for early signs such as loss of appetite, reduced water intake, restlessness, and constant scratching due to insect bites. Birds may also develop swellings around the eyes and show a noticeable slowdown in growth.
Unfortunately, many farm workers wait until birds start dying before raising an alarm. By then, experts say it is often too late to save the flock. Unlike some poultry diseases, fowl pox does not usually cause sudden mass deaths in its early stages, making it harder for untrained eyes to detect.
To prevent losses, farmers are advised to monitor their flocks closely, especially during the rainy season. Keeping daily mortality records, checking birds for skin or mouth lesions, and reducing exposure to biting insects are critical steps. Simple preventive measures such as proper poultry house screening, clearing stagnant water around the farm, and vaccinating birds before the rainy season can drastically reduce the risk of infection.
Veterinary officers also recommend isolation of sick birds to stop the spread, as well as maintaining high farm hygiene. Even though cutaneous fowl pox often heals without treatment, experts warn that the diphtheritic type can quickly become fatal if ignored.
Farmers who notice any suspicious signs should immediately contact a licensed veterinarian for advice. With proper monitoring, quick action, and preventive vaccination, the spread of fowl pox can be reduced, protecting poultry farmers from severe economic losses.
