A total of 24 farms in four regions have been affected by the outbreak of the Avian Influenza known as bird flu.
This is according to data from the Ghana Veterinary Services Directorate.
The affected regions are Greater Accra, Central, Volta, and Ashanti.
Greater Accra is leading the chart with 18 farms, while the Volta Region has recorded an outbreak in one farm.
A total of 41,451 birds have been affected resulting in the death of 18,814 naturally, while 22,637 of them have been destroyed as part of disease containment measures.
Risk Communication Officer with the Veterinary Services Directorate, Dr. Benjamin Kissi Sasu explained to Citi News, the rate of infection.
“As of August 5, 2021, we have 24 farms in four regions affected. Greater Accra is leading with 18 followed by Central with three, Volta and Ashanti with one and two respectively. Currently, we have 41,451 birds affected. Greater Accra has 19,320 birds affected, out of which 11,491 died naturally due to the disease, and 7,829 were destroyed to prevent further spread.”
In the Central Region, 13, 657 birds were affected out of which we had 4,100 birds died naturally from the disease with 9,567 birds destroyed for containment purposes.
2,482 birds have been affected by the disease in the Volta Region, with 495 of them dying naturally. 1,987 birds were however destroyed for containment of the disease in one farm.
For the Ashanti Region, 5,992 birds were affected with 2,728 birds dying naturally to the disease with 3,264 birds destroyed for disease containment.
The Veterinary Services Directorate recently put 12 regions on red alert over a possible outbreak of bird flu.
The service says its officers in the five regions of the North, the three Bono regions, the Western, Western North, Eastern, and Oti Regions, have been asked to put in measures to prevent an outbreak.
The Ashanti Region was the latest area to have recorded an outbreak in the country.
Three regions; the Greater Accra, Central, and Volta Regions, recorded cases in various farms two weeks ago.
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, are being implemented.
In addition, the Ministry said it has intensified public awareness and sensitization by Regional Coordinating Councils and District Assemblies, especially in the affected areas.
