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Measures Are Being Taken To Curb Bird Flu In Ghana – Agric Minister

The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Akoto Afriyie is stagnant on his position that government is determined to contain the spread of the H5N1 avian virus known as Bird Flu due to the stern measures being put in place.

Speaking at a press conference organized by the Information Ministry, Dr. Afriyie Akoto indicated that despite the inadequate staff the Veterinary Services Department faces, they are doing they are working effortfully to rig the situation under control.

“The veterinary services, although with inadequate staff, are doing everything possible to contain the disease and make sure that it doesn’t spread any further”.

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The Veterinary Services Directorate of Ghana detected the flu in the Greater Accra, Central, Ashanti, Western North, and Volta Regions.

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It has however affected nearly 110,000 birds since it last broke in July this year.

Dr. Afriyie Akoto also hinted at an urgent request to Cabinet to compensate affected poultry farmers.

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“Farmers are looking for compensation, and we are doing a very urgent request to Cabinet to meet that requirement,” Dr. Afriyie Akoto said.

The Greater Accra Poultry Farmers Association recently expressed optimism that calls for compensation will be met.

What is Bird Flu?

They are strains of the influenza virus that primarily infect birds, but can also infect humans.

This type of flu is most often contracted by contact with sick birds. It can also be passed from person to person.

Symptoms begin within two to eight days and can seem like the common flu. Cough, fever, sore throat, muscle aches, headache and shortness of breath may occur.

The disease can carry a high mortality in humans. Some antiviral drugs, if taken within two days of symptoms, may help.

How is it going to affect the Poultry industry?

Poultry farmers have indicated that the industry is likely to record its severest shock in years.

The outbreak of the disease followed the detection of similar cases in neighbouring countries since January 2021.

Cases of the Bird Flu disease were previously recorded in Ghana in 2007, 2015, 2016, and 2018.

Following the recent outbreak, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture announced a total ban on the importation of poultry and poultry products from neighbouring countries where the prevalence of the disease has been confirmed.

A ban on the movement of poultry and poultry products within and from the affected regions and districts to other parts of the country, and strict inspection and issuance of permits to cover the movement of all poultry and poultry products from unaffected parts of the country, has also been put in place.

 

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