Ministry warns public on avian flu

Accra, Feb. 14, GNA - The Ministry of Food and Agriculture on Wednesday warned that reported cases of avian flu (bird flu) in Nigeria showed that the disease had not yet been eradicated and the risk of it being introduced into Ghana was relatively high.

A statement signed by Mr Alidu Fuseini, Director of Financial and Administration of the Ministry, noted that on the 17th January 2007, Nigeria recorded her first human fatality from the Avian Influenza virus, H5NI.

There have also been outbreaks in Japan, Hungary and the United Kingdom, among other places.

The Ministry said it was, therefore, extremely necessary to remind Ghanaians that the threat of bird flu was still real and that every Ghanaian must continue to be vigilant since the migration of birds southwards continued.

The statement stressed that the ban on the importation of poultry and poultry product including feathers from infected countries including Nigeria; Burkina Faso; Cote d'Ivoire; Egypt; Niger, among other countries, was still in force.

He said everything possible was being done to prevent the entry of the virus into the country; adding that if it should enter, everything would be done to prevent its spread and would be eradicated.