Bird Flu Outbreak: More Than 24,000 Birds Destroyed In Sunyani West

Veterinary Services Department in the Bono Region has destroyed 24,803 birds, 973 crates of eggs, following the outbreak of the Avian Influenza in the Sunyani West Municipality of the Bono Region. Three poultry farms in the Municipality have so far been hit by influenza since January 13, but the Veterinary Services say it has also

upscale measures to control the outbreak in the region. Dr Donald Joachim Darko, the Bono Regional Director of the Veterinary Services Department, told the media in an interview that the service has engaged the police to protect the affected farms from encroachment to also prevent further spread. The Regional Director earlier

conducted Madam Justina Owusu-Banahene, the Bono Regional Minister, round the affected farms at Fiapre, Kobedi and Berlin Top to ascertain the level of infection. Dr Darko indicated though 2,000 additional birds had been killed at another farm in the municipality, service was yet to also confirm whether it was avian influenza, saying all the affected farms had been disinfected as

well. He said all the poultry farmers in the region had also been sensitized about the influenza and expressed the hope with support from all stakeholders outbreak would be brought under control. Kwame Appiah, one of the affected farmers, also told the media he had lost everything and appealed to the government to support them quickly to enable them to fend for themselves and their families.