Dr Patrick Abakeh, director of the Veterinary Services Directorate, says that so far seven farms in Ghana have been affected by the avian influenza (bird flu) in the country.
In all, 5,811 birds have died naturally on the affected farms and the Veterinary Services has destroyed 4,500 birds, he said.
The director said the disease infected five farms in Greater Accra, with 3,167 birds dead naturally and 300 destroyed.
It affected one farm in the Central Region, with 2,400 birds dying naturally and 4,200 destroyed. It also infected one farm in the Volta Region, with 224 birds dead naturally.
Ban on imports
Dr Abakeh, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said the bird flu was first detected on 6 July 2021 and samples taken to the laboratory and confirmed on 8 July.
A statement from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture confirmed the outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza in the three regions: Central, Greater Accra and Volta.
The ministry has therefore declared a total ban on importation of poultry and poultry products from neighbouring countries where the prevalence of the disease has been confirmed.
It has also placed a ban on the movement of poultry and poultry products within and from the affected regions and districts to other parts of Ghana.
A strict system of inspections and permits will cover the movement of all poultry and poultry products from unaffected parts of the country.
“The zoonotic nature of the disease calls for public alert and vigilance to mitigate the possible impact on the poultry industry and public health in general,” the statement warned.
It advised citizens to report any unusual deaths of domestic poultry and wild birds to the nearest Veterinary Office and other public officials for the public’s safety.
Members of the public should also avoid handling dead birds with their bare hands and consume only well-cooked poultry meat and poultry products, the statement advised.
“The outbreak of the disease follows the detection of similar cases in neighbouring countries since January 2021,” it said.
“Through effective surveillance and disease control management, the Veterinary Services Directorate has prevented the extension of the disease into Ghana until now.”
It noted that cases of the bird flu disease were previously recorded in 2007, 2015, 2016 and 2018, with significant economic impact on poultry farmers.
Awareness
The statement said the ministry is also intensifying public awareness and sensitisation through the regional co-ordinating councils and district assemblies, especially in the affected regions.
However, it urged the public not to panic because the Veterinary Services Directorate is taking all the steps necessary to contain the spread of the disease.
It urged the public to contact Dr Abakeh by phone on 020 824 0734 for further information.
The Centre for Disease Control explained that the bird flu outbreak was caused by infection with avian influenza Type A viruses.
These viruses occur naturally among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species.
Avian flu viruses do not normally infect human beings. However, sporadic human infections with avian flu viruses have occurred.
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