The Veterinary Services Directorate of Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) says there has been outbreaks of avian influenza (bird flu) in a number of West Africa countries.

A statement earlier this week issued by the Ministry and signed by the Ag Director of Veterinary Services, Dr Ben Aniwa, said the most recent one was reported to have occurred in March, 2015 in Burkina Faso, where a standstill order and other necessary measures have been initiated since 1 April 2015, reports Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.

The statement announced that veterinary officers in Ghana have started intensive disease surveillance in the Upper East and Upper West Regions as well as the Volta Region.

The ministry said while it does not intend to create panic in the country with the health alert, it was reminding the general public of the following:

• total ban of importation of poultry and poultry products from Burkina Faso.
• the general public should report any unusual deaths in domestic as well as wild birds to the nearest veterinary office
• dead birds should never be handled with bare hands.
• all poultry meat as well as eggs should be well cooked before consumption, and
• any internal movement of poultry and poultry products must undergo veterinary inspection and be accompanied by a movement permit.

Further Reading

You can visit the Avian Flu page by clicking here.