H5 subtype of Avian Influenza detected at Kpone-Katamanso
In Saki, a community in the Greater Accra Region’s Kpone Katamanso Municipality, the H5 subtype of avian influenza has been confirmed in ETY farms.
Following an outbreak of avian influenza in Togo, veterinary staff in all the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies were notified and encouraged to intensify surveillance in the various poultry farms within their operational areas, according to Dr Emmanuel Kwao Pecku, Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Veterinary Officer.
Dr Pecku went on to say that poultry farmers and live bird vendors have been educated on the signs and symptoms of Avian Influenza and that they were encouraged to report any unexpected bird deaths to the right authorities.
After some signs were identified on the farm’s birds, the proprietor of ETY Farms provided several 56-week-old layer birds for post-mortem examination.
On October 26, 2021, the Municipal Veterinary Officer stated that the findings of a quick antigen test revealed that the results were positive for the Avian Influenza H5 subtype.
Veterinary Officers would be dispatched to the farm as soon as possible to depopulate the birds, according to Dr Pecku.
He stated that proper disposal of the dead birds, as well as cleaning and disinfecting the farm, would be carried out in coordination with the Municipal Health Directorate, along with the screening of in-contact personnel.
Dr Pecku has called for an emergency meeting of stakeholders to inform them of the epidemic and create methods to contain it within the municipality.
As of October 27, 2021, about 900 birds in the ETY Farms have displayed indicators of potential avian influenza infection, including 170 deaths, he said.
Source: Richard Mensah Adonu | Join our Telegram Group
