The Ghana National Association of Poultry Farmers (GNAPF) of Ghana has stated that the veterinary service and others partners are doing their best to mitigate the spread of the bird flu in various farms nationwide.
Mr. Victor Oppong Adjei, the National Chairman of the Association also lauded government and its partner agencies for working to contain the outbreak of the Avian Influenza, first detected on July 6, 2021, in Ghana.
Mr. Oppong Adjei, in a media interaction said even though a fourth region; the Ashanti Region, had recorded a case, the containment situation was still better.
“So far, four regions; Greater Accra, Central, Volta and Ashanti had recorded the outbreak of the disease.
“But you know the Vet Services, in collaboration with the Association, and other partners are doing their best to avert the spread.”
Victor Adjei
He commended institutions including the Veterinary Services, NADMO, Fire Service and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for being active and supportive in controlling the disease.
Bird flu outbreak, not new
Mr. Adjei further noted that such outbreaks were not new in the country but the approach to stop the spread was very important and that was what the team of collaborators were doing to avert any spread that would have adverse effect on the industry and the economy as a whole.
He revealed that many of the farms which involved mainly the small poultry farms that were infected by the flu, had all been depopulated and disinfected, and are being allowed to lie fallow and quarantined for six more months.
He also stated that a lot of education was ongoing among the poultry farmers so they could detect and report sick birds as well as being able to keep their farms neat, while preventing people and vehicles from entering the farms.
As part of measures to control the situation, Mr Adjei said members of the Poultry Farmers Association were being granted movement permit by the Veterinary Services to enable them to transport all chicken and chicken products to other regions for sale.
Poultry products safe for consumption
Mr. Adjei then assured the public that it was safe to eat chicken and poultry products since they were all safe.
He explained that the poultry birds that were infected could not even lay eggs and they also looked very weak and unappetizing to be brought to the open market.
Mr. Adjei, however, advised that chicken and eggs should be boiled very well before they are consumed.
He assured the farmers that government would pay a good compensation for their destroyed birds and urged them not to hide their sick birds but report to the authorities for the necessary intervention. He urged them to ensure they intensified their biosecurity measures to prevent infections on their farms.
The outbreak was detected in the country on July 6, 2021, after which samples were taken to the laboratory are later confirmed to have been the virus.
