4 MAY 2007 | ACCRA -- The Government of Ghana has advised its citizens to remain calm in the wake of the detection of the first case of bird Flu in Ghana. The outbreak of the H5N1 virus was confirmed last Tuesday after it was detected on a small scale poultry farm near the port city of Tema at the weekend.

Consequently, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has declared the Tema Municipality an Avian Influenza infected area and banned the movement of live birds within and out of the municipality until further notice. Additionally, all live bird markets in the area have been closed.

At a press conference to announce the outbreak yesterday, Mr Ernest Debrah said samples taken from this farm on Tuesday 24 April 2007 and diagnosed jointly by the Accra Veterinary Laboratory and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) of the University of Ghana proved positive for the H5N1 virus. He said additional samples taken to the US Navy's Research Centre in Cairo also confirmed the first two results.

He disclosed that samples have been sent to the World Organization for Animal Health Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory in Italy for additional confirmation.

Following the first confirmation, Mr Debrah said the Veterinary Services Emergency Preparedness Team took immediate measures to prevent the spread of the disease. The measures included the destruction of a total of 1,678 birds on the farm and those in adjoining houses. It also destroyed four ducks and a number of eggs. All carcasses were incinerated and the remains buried. It has also heightened surveillance and testing on suspicious birds and it is working to ensure that potential cases are found.

As additional precautionary measure, health screening of the people on the farm was being conducted, he added. The Sector Minster advised all poultry farmers to increase their levels of bio- security to ensure that people do not unnecessarily enter their farMs On compensation for farmer, the Agriculture Minister explained that farmers whose birds are destroyed would be paid a rate between 50 and 90 per cent of the market value of the destroyed birds before the outbreak.

Mr Debrah urged the public to remain calm as the necessary measures are being taken to contain the outbreak and any future outbreaks should they occur. "There is no need for panic and fear of poultry", he said , adding that "poultry is still safe for consumption, but advised that the public to cook their meat and eggs very well (above 70 degrees centigrade) before eating.

He said since 2005, the Government has put in place a preparedness plan for Avian Influenza, adding that "we are fully prepared for it".

Mr Debrah said intensive education is being carried out to ensure the safety of Ghanaians. He advised the public not to touch or handle any sick or dead birds with their bare hands and should report the death of any bird to the nearest agricultural office. The Minister provided a number of hotlines where the general public could report any issues or suspicions on the disease.

Present at the Press conference were the Deputy Minister of Health, Honorable Samuel Owusu Adjei, Mrs Oboshie Sai Cofie, Deputy Information Minister, Directors of the Ministries of Health and Food and Agriculture and Members of the Avian Influenza Task Force - a multi sectoral and expert group.

For more information contact:
Sophia Twum-Barima
Health Information and Promotion Officer, WHO Country Office
29 Volta Street, Airport Residential Area
P.O. Box MB 142
Accra, Ghana
Tel.: 00 233 21 763918/9; 774719
Fax: 00 233 21 763920
E-mail: twum-barimas [at] gh.afro.who.int (twum-barimas[at]gh[dot]afro[dot]who[dot]int)

Dawn Soisson
BCC Advisor 
Ghana Sustainable Change Project 
Cell: +233 244 314 347 
Tel.: +233 21 244 658 
E-mail: dsoisson [at] aedghana.org (dsoisson[at]aedghana[dot]org)