Bird flu under control-Deputy Minister

The number of bird flu cases recorded in the country recently has been reduced, a deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Anna Nyamekye has said.

Speaking to the Times in Accra on Monday, she attributed the containment of the disease to effective measures put in place by the government.

She said a task force was set up when the flu broke out to ensure that poultry products were not imported from bird flu affected countries.

A surveillance team was also tasked to screen birds on poultry farms in the country to ensure that the flu does not spread.

Ms Nyamekye said that should the current situation stabilize, the government will reconsider its decision to import poultry products.

She noted that all the affected farmers who had their poultry and its products as well as properties destroyed as a result of the disease outbreak have been compensated.

The deputy Minister expressed government's satisfaction with the promptness with which the epidemic was curbed and said that the veterinary and wildlife institutions are fully equipped to combat fresh cases.

She said that the public must not hesitate to report deaths of their birds to the nearest agricultural and veterinary office.

"The ministry has embarked on a campaign to educate poultry farmers on how to handle sick birds and other safety precautions," she said.

Ms Nyamekye said the government's attention is now focused on bio security on poultry farms to prevent the spread of the disease and other poultry diseases from farm to farm.

Source: The Ghanaian Times