SUMMARY

The occurrence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which was first reported in Wuhan, Hubei province of China in December 2019, has now spread to all continents – including Africa. The coronaviruses, which are a family of ribonucleic acid viruses, circulate in both mammals and birds. The COVID-19 virus has been suggested to emanate from wildlife with the likelihood of zoonotic transfer to humans to establish infection. The uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 virus transmission has created significant concern for human-animal interactions, such as the possibility of infected humans transmitting the virus to animals and vice versa. With the escalation of COVID-19 virus across the globe, several measures including social distancing and self-isolation, have been established to ensure human safety and limit the risk of transmission. Emphasis is placed on global readiness and preparation of the health care systems and personnel; however, concerns are emanating on matters such as food security and the effects of global lockdowns on the agricultural sector, including the poultry industries. In most African countries, where poultry production serves multi-faceted purposes including nutrition, income generation and security, containment of production operations would result in major economic crisis and food shortages due to the ensuing fluctuation in demand and supply. This generates interesting insights and knowledge gaps on the consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak on poultry production. With African countries confronting significant socioeconomic obstacles, it is important to devise measures that would assist in improving nutrition and food security in a manner that ensures the containment of the coronavirus. This review seeks to call attention to the impacts of COVID-19 on poultry production in African countries, and the strategies that should be adopted to assist in sustaining farm productivity, protect farm personnel, and strengthen biosafety for enhanced food security amid this global pandemic.