GHANA: Bird Flu Hits Country

The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Research has confirmed there is Avian Influenza virus or Bird Flu in some birds in Ghana.

Out of six samples tested by the Institute, five of them proved positive for the bird flu virus, Research fellow at the Institute, Dr Kofi Odoom, Joy News reports



According to him, the Institute received the samples on 15 May, 2015 from two farms located in Achimota and Tema and subjected them to medical scrutiny.

The virus for now is from bird to bird he stated, adding however that the Institute is yet to conduct tests on the handlers of those birds to confirm whether r not the virus has been transferred from birds to humans.

He was quick to add that there is no cause for alarm at least for now but advised poultry farmers to keep their farms clean and report as soon as possible strange behaviour by their birds.

He said everything will be done to control the disease.

Deputy Agriculture Minister, Dr Hannah Bissiw, has warned poultry farmers not to eat affected birds.

She said even the birds which die in various farms must be sent to the veterinary services for investigation.

The Deputy Minister also advised travelers to neighbouring countries not to import the birds to the country.

"A single bird you bring into the country could be the single source of infection of other birds," she said.

Avian influenza, known informally as avian flu or bird flu, refers to "influenza caused by viruses adapted to birds.

"Bird flu" is a phrase similar to "swine flu," "dog flu," "horse flu," or "human flu" in that it refers to an illness caused by any of many different strains of influenza viruses that have adapted to a specific birds.

Bird flu is known to be a deadly disease which has claimed many lives across the globe.