The move, according to the officers, was to protect poultry farmers as well as prevent the sale of affected birds in public markets to mitigate further spread of the disease.

Mr. Bernard Lawer, the Keta Municipal Veterinary Officer, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that the avian influenza disease was identified in a poultry farm at Abor when a sample of suspected disease was confirmed after a laboratory test which confirmed about 500 birds were affected.

“Investigations we conducted revealed that the disease likely spread from Togo to Akatsi South municipality before reaching Abor,” he said.
He explained that the officers have killed and buried over 500 chicken at the only farm that was affected by the avian influenza according to the directives and there were hope to curb the spread of the disease in the area while no further cases have been identified in the municipality since the action was taken.

He said that Avian influenza was a viral infection that affects all forms of domestic poultry and wild birds and recommended biosecurity measures to be crucial in preventing the introduction and spread of the disease in poultry farms.

“Avian influenza viruses are type A orthomyxoviruses with various hemagglutinin and neuraminidase subtypes, low-pathogenicity strains can cause mild symptoms, while high-pathogenicity strains lead to severe systemic disease and high mortality.”

He said that the control measures for the virus include biosecurity strategies, reporting suspected outbreaks as early as possible to regulatory authorities, and using antigenically matched vaccines to prevent infections and reduce virus shedding.

Mr. Lawer said that certain strains of avian influenza can infect humans, especially those with direct contact with infected birds while prevention methods focused on controlling outbreaks in poultry through biosecurity and hygiene practices and urged farmer to cut trees closed to poultry farms to prevent affected bird carrying virus around.

He mentioned that a comprehensive situational report would be sent to the regional and national veterinary headquarters in subsequent days for the victim to be compensated to regain the loses after the entire chicken in the poultry farm were killed.

He said that diagnosis involves early detection of the viral genome or specific antibodies, and the antimicrobials may help control secondary bacterial infections in affected flocks while antiviral drugs were not approved or recommended for treatment.

Mr. Lawer said that Africa swarm fever disease was also found at Abor in a pig farm but was brought under control due to the early report and detection to prevent spread of the disease to other farms.

He said that education was underway to urged public and the farmers in the district farmers’ association to report any form of disease outbreak in the area to help early detection and prevented to curb spread of such diseases among farms that would lead to economic losses.