Bird Flu Is Not Dangerous -Agric Director

The Brong Ahafo Regional Director of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Asante Krobea, has said that bird Flu is not any dangerous disease that should cause panic for the public and therefore called for calm among farmers and the general public following the confirmation of the disease at New Dormaa, a suburb in Sunyani. He said "with proper management, the disease can easily be controlled adding that malaria is more dangerous that bird flu".

He said all the 170 birds found infected with the disease at the farm and their products as well as the equipment used have been destroyed.

He urged poultry farmers to abide by the precautions given by the ministry to prevent the spread of the disease to other farms in the region. He said all movements of birds, eggs, crates and other poultry products from the region to other places or from other places to the region has been banned.

Mr Asante Krobea said the regional surveillance team is on the field to encourage poultry farmers to continue with their work.

The regional director gace the assurance that "the regional preparedness team meets almost every day on the issue to come out with possible measures to check further out breaks".

He appealed to poultry farmers to report the death of any birds promptly to the nearest veterinary office for examination and possibly their destruction to ensure public safety.

The regional director said that the ministry is preparing to compensate affected farmers and advised poultry farmers not to visit colleague farms because they could transfer the disease from their farms to others or might also carry the virus from colleague farms to theirs.

He appealed to the public to cooperate with the security agencies in checking vehicles to ensure that there is no movement of eggs or birds in the region and urged the public to report vehicles found transporting any poultry products to the police.

Mr. Krobea Asante said a regional task force, with the regional minister, Ignatius Baffour Awuah as the chairman, has been formed to manage the outbreak of the disease.

He was worried that some radio presenters tried to make fun out of the outbreak of the disease and appealed to the media to be circumspect in the reportage on the disease since any sensationalisation could have serious economic implications.

The regional director commended Space FM for the professional manner it handled the matter. It was only Space FM which did not speculate the out break of the disease until it was confirmed by health officials.