250 poultry destroyed over bird flu

The Veterinary Services Department has destroyed 250 poultry birds over suspected bird flu infection at New Takoradi, a suburb of Tarkwa, in the Western Region.

A team of veterinary and environmental officials, at the weekend destroyed about 250 birds birds, eight crates of eggs, four bags of poultry feed and empty egg crates suspected to have infected with the disease, the GNA reported.

In January, government released GHc11 million to support the fight against bird flu in the country.

Speaking at the forum, Dr Bissiw said her Ministry has supplied 22 vehicles and 120 motorbikes to control the disease.

The government of Ghana through the Ministry of Agriculture has supplied 22 vehicles and 120 motorbikes for the control of the avian influenza. Government has also released GHc11 million to support the fight against the disease. Government of Ghana paid compensation to 25 affected poultry farmers an amount of GHc1,067,365 representing 90% of the total current market value of GHc1, 185,928,” she said.

Dr. Bissiw added “Since the first outbreak of Bird Flu in May 2015 the government of Ghana and its development partners such as Food and Agriculture organization of the United Nations, the World Bank, UNC and UNICEF and we’ve also found out that USAID has also been very supportive.”

Five regions have so far been affected by the bird flu with Greater Accra recording the highest cases