Bird flu:Farmers warned to intensify biosecurity

The president of the Poultry Farmers Association, Victor Oppong Agyei, has advised poultry farmers across the country to institute extra measures to curb any disease outbreaks in the wake of a suspected bird flu case in the Western Region.

The Veterinary Services Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) disinfected a poultry farm at New Takoradi, a suburb of Tarkwa after 250 birds were destroyed over a fresh outbreak of avian flu.

An outbreak was recorded in the area recently at a poultry farm and the farmer lost 50 birds.

The action to destroy the birds was taken to avert further spread of the disease. According to veterinary officers, the owner of the farm and his family have also been handed over to the Ghana Health Service (GHS) for screening.

Mr. Agyei, who spoke in an interview with Class FM’s Emefa Apawu on the 505 news programme on Monday 18 April, lauded the swift move, indicating: “Whenever there is a suspected case of bird flu, all the birds must be destroyed.”

He indicated that the association was sounding an alert to all poultry farmers to “intensify their biosecurity and also not allow many people to enter the farms without authorisation because it could cause a further spread.

He added that all workers should use appropriate gear and take extra precautions in the handling of birds.