Western Region Director of the Ghana Health Service Dr. Yaw Ofori Yeboah has confirmed that the region has recorded its first bird flu case.
Speaking at the opening of a Public Health Emergency Operations Centre in Sekondi, Dr. Yaw Ofori Yeboah indicated that the case “was recorded 24 hours ago”.
In a later interview on the Tuesday edition of Connect FM’s midday news Orekodo, Vice Chairman of the Ghana National Association of Poultry Farmers Napoleon Agyemang Oduro mentioned that the “sad incident happened on a farm at in the Ahanta West Municipality [Monday]”.
“Yes, I can also confirm that we have also recorded the bird flu here and at Ahanta West. As I speak the birds have all been destroyed. The necessary fumigation has been done on the farm in accordance with international best practices. According to the information that I have, the farm is not a big farm. The capacity is a little over three hundred birds.”
He stated that his outfit together with the regional veterinary services department and dealers in poultry products are collaborating to ensure that the incident is contained.
“This is not the time to entertain people on the farm. We have also told our members to ensure that workers go through a rigorous safety protocol when they report to work. Again, dealers in poultry products are being encouraged to shun practices that could promote transmission. Anyone who intends to transport poultry and poultry products from one place to the other must ensure that permission is granted before doing so.”
He called for calm and urged that “you continue to enjoy your poultry and poultry products because all is being done to ensure that no unwholesome product enters the market”.
“It was through this and other radio engagements as well as other forms of sensitization drive that prompted the farm owner to take the birds to the lab when it was suspected that something was wrong. And so, we are urging farmers to quickly report anything that they suspect is not normal so that the situation can be tackled expeditiously to prevent a spread. Poultry farmers have also been cautioned that anyone who will attempt to sell unwholesome product will be dealt with drastically when caught.”
By Eric Yaw Adjei|Connect FM|3news.com|Ghana