Veterinary Services destroys 40,154 birds

The Veterinary Services Department (USD), has destroyed 40,154 birds and 1,103 crates of eggs as part of measures to contain the spread of the bird flu disease in the Greater Accra, Volta and Ashanti regions.

In addition, 37 bags of feed have been destroyed, with a feed mill situated in an outbreak area under investigation for destruction, while 23,987 birds have died from the disease.

The Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Livestock, Dr Hanna Bisiw, made this known in an interview with the Daily Graphic shortly after the opening of a three day training programme for regional and district veterinary officers in Accra.

Non-negotiable ban

As part of the containment measures, the movement of poultry and poultry products from infected zones into free zones had also been banned.

Dr Bissiw cautioned that the ministry would not negotiate on the ban because that would encourage the spread of the virus.

She stressed that movement from non-affected areas to affected areas would only be approved if the poultry and poultry products were accompanied with health certificates and movement permits issued by staff of the veterinary services department.'

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“We understand when people are used to doing something freely and there are restrictions, it is uncomfortable, but we are in an outbreak, hence we need to take special decisions to contain the disease and also completely kick it out of the country. When we have an outbreak, it’s like you are at war with the disease or virus so you cannot negotiate”.

Current situation

In a presentation on Bird Flu Update and Epidemiology, the Head of the Epidemiology Unit of MOFA, Dr Paul Polkuu said the first case was reported on May, 4, and confirmed on May, 12, 2015.

Dr Polkuu mentioned commercial poultry, local poultry, guinea fowls, geese, ducks, turkeys, partridges, quails, pigeons as species affected.

Government’s support

As part of facilitating the movement of the staff of the veterinary service and the fight against the influenza, government has released six vehicles and 20 motorsbikes to the veterinary services department and other things needed for the laboratory.

Credit: Graphiconline