Bird flu outbreak in 3 regions of Ghana, Dormaa PFA chair appeals to Gov’t to import vaccines

The chairman of Dormaa Poultry Farmers Association, Mr Dei Kusi is calling on the government of Ghana to consider importing vaccines for Bird flu to prevent more harm to the country as three Regions, Volta, Central and the Greater Accra Region experience outbreaks.

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has announced the outbreak of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza disease, also known as Bird Flu, in three regions in the country. The Ministry in a statement said it's Veterinary Services Directorate has detected the Flu in the Greater Accra, Central and Volta Regions.

This Ministry explained that it was through effective surveillance and disease control management after an outbreak in neighbouring countries that the disease was detected. The outbreak of the disease follows the detection of similar cases in neighbouring countries since January 2021. 

Services Directorate has prevented the extension of the disease into Ghana until now, part of the statement read. Urging the public to be vigilant, it added that measures have been put in place to contain the disease, hence the need for public compliance.

The zootomic nature of the disease calls for public alert and vigilance to mitigate the possible impact on the poultry industry and public health in general. The current outbreak follows cases of the Bird Flu disease that were previously recorded in Ghana in 2007, 2015, 2016 and 2018. 

But the Dormaa Poultry Farmers Association believes it is hard time leadership of the country accept the fact that the Bird Flu has come to stay hence the need to start importing its vaccines like Cote D'Ivoire and other neighbouring countries are doing.