Announcement

**HenryN** · May 10, 2007, 06:21 AM

Re: Bird flu: Ghana on high alert

Third bird flu outbreak recorded

The Tema Municipality within one week has recorded the third outbreak of avian influenza, otherwise known as bird flu, at a poultry farm at Adjei Kojo, near Ashaiman.

The disease that killed a number of birds, might have spread from a near by poultry farm, which had about 12,000 birds, 323 crates of eggs, and 375 kilogrammes of feed that was destroyed.

Dr. Darlington Owusu, Head of the Avian Influenza Surveillance team, who disclosed these to journalists in Tema on Tuesday, said several crates of eggs were destroyed and about 500 birds burnt and buried at Adjei Kojo.

He gave the assurance that the team would work hard to prevent the disease from spreading to other parts of the country.

Dr. Owusu advised poultry farmers to ensure that they fed their birds with uncontaminated feed and to cooperate with the team in efforts aimed at preventing the spread of the disease.

He advised Ghanaians against eating dead birds and urged consumers to cook poultry products for a long period in order to destroy any possible virus.

Dr. Owusu also advised that strange death among birds should be reported to the Veterinary Services Department.

He said the Government was paying compensation of between 50 to 90 per cent of the market value of birds, eggs and other items destroyed upon detection of the disease, to affected poultry farmers.

Source: GNA

Story from Myjoyonline.Com News:

MyJoyOnline - Ghana News | Ghana's most comprehensive website. Independent, Fearless and Credible journalism

http://www.myjoyonline.com/archives/news/200705/4364.asp

Ghana News | Ghana's most comprehensive website. Independent, Fearless and Credible journalism

**HenryN** · May 10, 2007, 08:27 AM

Re: Bird flu: Ghana on high alert

Commentary at

Qinghai H5N1 Spread in Ghana

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/05100702/H5N1_Ghana_Spread.html

Recombinomics Commentary

**HenryN** · May 10, 2007, 10:32 AM

Re: Bird flu: Ghana on high alert

Bird flu task force arrests four

http://www.myjoyonline.com/archives/...00705/4437.asp

Four persons have been arrested for violating a ban on the trade and movement of birds in the Tema metropolis.

The ban was imposed last week when the first case of bird flu was detected.

According to the Deputy Director of Veterinary Services in charge of Greater Accra, Dr. Francis Peterson, who led the police to effect the arrests, the four persons including two women had dressed some birds for sale much against the prohibition order.

He said the task force in collaboration with the police has embarked on an exercise to search vehicles to and from Tema to ensure that the disease is contained in the areas identified so far.

The task force said some farmers are believed to be hiding some of their birds in a bid to prevent their destruction.

Dr. Peterson warned that those arrested for engaging in such acts will have their products confiscated and no compensation paid to them.

**Treyfish** · May 10, 2007, 12:00 PM

Re: Bird flu: Ghana on high alert

<TABLE id=Table12 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=7></TD><TD vAlign=top><TABLE id=Table13 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>

TEMA RECORDS 3RD OUTBREAK OF BIRD FLU

| Posted: Thursday, May 10, 2007

<TABLE cellPadding=1 width=100 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD align=middle></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD align=middle></SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>THE TEMA Municipality within one week has recorded the third outbreak of avian influenza, otherwise known as bird flu, at a poultry farm at Adjei Kojo, near Ashaiman.
The disease that killed a number of birds might have spread from a nearby poultry farm, which had about 12,000 birds, 323 crates of eggs, and 375 kilogrammes of feed that was destroyed.
Dr. Darlington Owusu, Head of the Avian Influenza Surveillance team, who disclosed these to Journalists in Tema on Tuesday, said several crates of eggs were destroyed and about 500 birds burnt and buried at Adjei Kojo.
He gave the assurance that the team would work hard to prevent the disease from spreading to other parts of the country.
Dr. Owusu advised poultry farmers to ensure that they fed their birds with uncontaminated feed and to cooperate with the team in efforts aimed at preventing the spread of the disease.
He advised Ghanaians against eating dead birds and urged consumers to cook poultry products for a long period in order to destroy any possible virus.
Dr. Owusu also advised that strange death among birds should be reported to the Veterinary Services Department.
He said the Government was paying compensation of between 50 to 90 per cent of the market value of birds, eggs and other items destroyed upon detection of the disease, to affected poultry farmers.
Meanwhile, the Veterinary Services Department of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has
?The Veterinary Services has an Avian Influenza Diagnostic Laboratory, which was refurbished in April 2006 by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), which has an advanced facility - Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) - to detect genre of the virus,? Dr Enoch Boye-Mensah Koney, Director of Veterinary Services told the Ghana News Agency in Accra.
He was refuting claims by the Tema Municipal Poultry and Livestock Farmers Association and Farmers? Union, who have doubted the authenticity of the reported outbreak of the H5NI Bird flu Dr. Koney explained that the specimen that was collected from the farm in Tema was first sent to the Accra Veterinary Services Laboratory, then to Noguchi and U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3, Cairo, Egypt for confirmation.
?Samples have further been taken to the International Animal Health Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory at Padova, Italy, to determine the sequencing or the type of strain of the virus,? he said.
?The report will help us to trace the source and know whether the type we have detected in Ghana here is the Nigerian type, South Asian or any other type.?

He assured poultry and livestock farmers in the Municipality to believe that there was an outbreak of the bird flu virus and advised them to ensure bio-security by maintaining higher standards of hygiene and also put in protective measures against wild birds and other ruminants.
?Currently, our officers are on the field specifically at the place in question, which is 200 metres from Michel Camp destroying all farms, first of all, within three-kilometre radius, then extending it to five kilometre radius and then eight kilometres radius. This is to ensure safety of the people.? Dr. Koney asked the public not to panic, since the Service had deployed task officers working to prevent further outbreak of the virus. Mr. Ernest Debrah, Minister of the MOFA on May 2 announced at a press conference in Accra that the bird flu virus had been detected on a small-scale farm in Tema but no humans had been affected. - GNA

http://www.ghanaian-chronicle.com/thestory.asp?id=1725

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

**HenryN** · May 10, 2007, 01:05 PM

Re: Bird flu: Ghana on high alert

Originally posted by treyfish View Post

<TABLE id=Table12 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=7></TD><TD vAlign=top><TABLE id=Table13 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>

TEMA RECORDS 3RD OUTBREAK OF BIRD FLU

| Posted: Thursday, May 10, 2007

He was refuting claims by the Tema Municipal Poultry and Livestock Farmers Association and Farmers? Union, who have doubted the authenticity of the reported outbreak of the H5NI Bird flu Dr. Koney explained that the specimen that was collected from the farm in Tema was first sent to the Accra Veterinary Services Laboratory, then to Noguchi and U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3, Cairo, Egypt for confirmation.
?Samples have further been taken to the International Animal Health Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory at Padova, Italy, to determine the sequencing or the type of strain of the virus,? he said.
?The report will help us to trace the source and know whether the type we have detected in Ghana here is the Nigerian type, South Asian or any other type.?

- GNA

http://www.ghanaian-chronicle.com/thestory.asp?id=1725

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

HA and NA sequences from three isolates have already been generated by NAMRU-3. They are all Qinghai H5N1 and most closley related to December Ivory Coast isolates, but probably are from newly introduced infections due to migratory birds.

**Treyfish** · May 10, 2007, 02:16 PM

Re: Bird flu: Ghana on high alert

Thanks, Dr. N! Hhere is some more news..
<CENTER>Ministry takes steps to control spread of bird flu

</CENTER><SCRIPT type=text/javascript></SCRIPT><SCRIPT src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT></SPAN></B>Sunyani, May 10, GNA - Mr. Asante Krobea, the Brong Ahafo Regional Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, has advised the public not to panic about the outbreak of the avian influenza in the country. He said the disease was discovered in the Tema Municipality alone and no other place in the country and that the situation has so far been brought under control.

He told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that the ministry has since been on the alert and has put in place adequate measures to curb it.

Mr Krobea said surveillance and education of farmers as well as the general public on signs and symptoms of the disease has been intensified.

An emergency preparedness team has been set up to visit poultry farms daily to interact with farmers and encourage them to continue with their work without fears, he said.

On restriction of transporting birds from one place to another, the Director said there had not been any order to that effect because such orders could create more fears among the public and would affect the poultry industry in the region.

He said security measures have been taken to enforce the ban on poultry products entering the region from the boarder town of Cote d'Ivoire to ensure that no contaminated bird or egg got into the region. 10 May 07s

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePag....php?ID=123839

**Treyfish** · May 10, 2007, 02:28 PM

Re: Bird flu: Ghana on high alert

<CENTER>Migratory birds not responsible for bird flu

</CENTER><SCRIPT type=text/javascript></SCRIPT><SCRIPT src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT>Accra, May 10, GNA - Dr Erasmus Owusu, Acting Executive Director, Ghana Wildlife Society (GWS) on Thursday refuted allegations that birds that migrated to the shores of Ghana during winter in Europe were responsible for the outbreak of bird flu in Ghana.

He said although there had been evidence around the world that wild birds were responsible for the outbreak of the virus in some European countries, this had not been the case with Ghana.

"We have been collaborating with the Veterinary Services, the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission and the other research agencies to find out if any of the birds that migrated to Ghana had any of the bird flu strain, but have till date not found any," he told journalists at a press conference in Accra.

The press conference was to draw attention to World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD), a global event, scheduled to take place on May 12 under the theme: "Migratory Bird in a Changing Climate".

The day is a global initiative devoted to celebrating the beauty of migrating birds and for promoting their conservation worldwide. The day would be marked in Ghana by bird watching at the Ramsar sites across the Greater Accra Region, by patrons of the GWS, Club members, tourists and people from all walks of life and the screening of a film "An Inconvenient Truth" at the GWS.

Mr Owusu said the GWS had since last year been taking and monitoring blood sample of the migratory birds that visited the country, especially within the wetlands to ensure that they did not have any strain of the bird flu and so far all the reports had proved negative. "Where the bird flu was first detected in Ghana was no where near the Ramsar site where the birds are found," he said, adding, "surveillance is still being carried out and the samples were being sent to countries in Europe to ensure that the migratory birds were not the vectors for the transmission of the bird flu.

Mr Owusu said the need to mark the WMBD in Ghana was very essential so as to draw attention on the need to conserve the birds so that they did not become extinct as was becoming the case. He cited the Roseatte Terns as a case of near extinction, which was halted through conservation efforts instituted by the GWS and Bird Life International both NGOs.

The Roseatte Terns are migratory birds identified to have flown from the United Kingdom to Ghana during wintertime, but diminished in numbers when they went back after the season, especially due to trapping and capture by some Ghanaians. "The goal of WMBD 2007 is to try to focus attention on the plight of migratory birds and to highlight the way they are being affected by climate change in the same way as all living things.

"Climate change has severe consequences for these nomads of the skies: it causes the loss of essential bird habitats, changes migration patterns and increases the competitions for food between migrating birds and residents," he said.

Dr Chiambeng Paulinus Ngeh of the Birdlife International, West African sub-Regional Office based in Nigeria, praised Ghanaians for not showing any panic during the announcement of the bird flu outbreak. This, he noted, was a clear indication of how well the education had been taken by the populace.

He urged Ghanaians to take the issues of conservation more seriously, especially in relation to migratory birds since such birds could offer extraordinary opportunity for international collaboration. Dr Ngeh said factors responsible for declines in migratory birds were often not clear, but named land use change owing to, agriculture, deforestation and desertification as some of the single main threat affecting 60 per cent of all threatened and near threatened species. 10 /MAY/07

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePag....php?ID=123825

**HenryN** · May 10, 2007, 02:51 PM

Re: Bird flu: Ghana on high alert

Originally posted by treyfish View Post

<CENTER>Migratory birds not responsible for bird flu

</CENTER><SCRIPT type=text/javascript></SCRIPT><SCRIPT src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT>Accra, May 10, GNA - Dr Erasmus Owusu, Acting Executive Director, Ghana Wildlife Society (GWS) on Thursday refuted allegations that birds that migrated to the shores of Ghana during winter in Europe were responsible for the outbreak of bird flu in Ghana.

He said although there had been evidence around the world that wild birds were responsible for the outbreak of the virus in some European countries, this had not been the case with Ghana.

"We have been collaborating with the Veterinary Services, the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission and the other research agencies to find out if any of the birds that migrated to Ghana had any of the bird flu strain, but have till date not found any," he told journalists at a press conference in Accra.

The press conference was to draw attention to World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD), a global event, scheduled to take place on May 12 under the theme: "Migratory Bird in a Changing Climate".

The day is a global initiative devoted to celebrating the beauty of migrating birds and for promoting their conservation worldwide. The day would be marked in Ghana by bird watching at the Ramsar sites across the Greater Accra Region, by patrons of the GWS, Club members, tourists and people from all walks of life and the screening of a film "An Inconvenient Truth" at the GWS.

Mr Owusu said the GWS had since last year been taking and monitoring blood sample of the migratory birds that visited the country, especially within the wetlands to ensure that they did not have any strain of the bird flu and so far all the reports had proved negative. "Where the bird flu was first detected in Ghana was no where near the Ramsar site where the birds are found," he said, adding, "surveillance is still being carried out and the samples were being sent to countries in Europe to ensure that the migratory birds were not the vectors for the transmission of the bird flu.

Mr Owusu said the need to mark the WMBD in Ghana was very essential so as to draw attention on the need to conserve the birds so that they did not become extinct as was becoming the case. He cited the Roseatte Terns as a case of near extinction, which was halted through conservation efforts instituted by the GWS and Bird Life International both NGOs.

The Roseatte Terns are migratory birds identified to have flown from the United Kingdom to Ghana during wintertime, but diminished in numbers when they went back after the season, especially due to trapping and capture by some Ghanaians. "The goal of WMBD 2007 is to try to focus attention on the plight of migratory birds and to highlight the way they are being affected by climate change in the same way as all living things.

"Climate change has severe consequences for these nomads of the skies: it causes the loss of essential bird habitats, changes migration patterns and increases the competitions for food between migrating birds and residents," he said.

Dr Chiambeng Paulinus Ngeh of the Birdlife International, West African sub-Regional Office based in Nigeria, praised Ghanaians for not showing any panic during the announcement of the bird flu outbreak. This, he noted, was a clear indication of how well the education had been taken by the populace.

He urged Ghanaians to take the issues of conservation more seriously, especially in relation to migratory birds since such birds could offer extraordinary opportunity for international collaboration. Dr Ngeh said factors responsible for declines in migratory birds were often not clear, but named land use change owing to, agriculture, deforestation and desertification as some of the single main threat affecting 60 per cent of all threatened and near threatened species. 10 /MAY/07

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePag....php?ID=123825

ALL live wild birds in western Africa have been negative for H5N1 (as was true for Europe).

**Treyfish** · May 10, 2007, 05:55 PM

Re: Bird flu: Ghana on high alert

Togo bans Ghana chickens
afrol News, 11 May - Ghana?s chicken exportation has been hampered by the discovery of H5N1 bird flu in one of the poultry farms in the country last month. Officials in Ghana?s neighbouring country, Togo have banned importation of chicken products from Ghana.
Togolese officials said the ban will be in force until further notice.

Ghanaian authorities are alarmed by the growing pace of the avian flu?s pace in the country, especially Tema Municipality where three outbreaks were recorded within a week.

Most Ghanaians fear that the virus might spread to large poultry farms in Tema Municipality, leading to scarcity of poultry products. The head of Ghana?s avian flu surveillance team, Darlington Owusu, confirmed the destruction of thousands of crates of eggs. He also said at least 500 birds have been burnt and buried.

Togolese authorities launched a national bird flu plan in February last year. The plan involved a national alert system, border controls and the training of medical staff.

The West African country aims to eradicate bird flu but fear that importation of Ghanaian poultry product will derail their efforts.

Ghana has also taken frantic efforts to prevent the disease from spreading its tentacles all over the country. Consequently, Dr Owusu advised farmers to feed their birds with uncontaminated feed and cooperate with the team at all times.

Dr Owusu called on people to desist from eating dead birds and also cook poultry products for several hours so that they can destroy any possible virus. He urged people to report the death of strange birds to veterinary services department.

Ghana government has been compensating between 50 and 90 percent of the market value of the destroyed poultry products to the affected farmers since the outbreak began.

Veterinary experts said there is cause for fear, for they have got avian flu detection devices.

Samples of the death birds have been sent to the International Animal Health Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory at Padova in Italy where experts are expected to classify the type of strain of the virus. This will help Ghanaians to know not only the source of the virus but also its connection with the South Asian or Nigerian type.

http://www.afrol.com/articles/25384

**Treyfish** · May 12, 2007, 07:21 PM

Re: Bird flu: Ghana on high alert

<CENTER>Volta Region steps up surveillance on bird flu-

</CENTER>

<SCRIPT type=text/javascript></SCRIPT><SCRIPT src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT></B>Ho, May 12, GNA- Dr Ben Aniwa, Volta Regional Veterinary Officer said on Friday that regional, district and local committees in the region have increased their surveillance for the signs of the Avian Influenza (bird flu)

Dr Aniwa was speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA in an interview on his outfit's preparedness in the light of the detection of the disease in the Tema area, which is quite close to the Volta Region. He said, apart from awareness among poultry farmers being sharpened; presently workers of the Ministry of Food And Agriculture (MOFA) were out sensitizing school pupils to report dead birds found for verification.

Dr Aniwa said poultry farmers have been educated on the symptoms of the disease and was hopeful that they would report any diseased bird to his outfit.

He said consumer concerns with regard to the treatment of chicken before consumption was also being taken care of.

Volta Region steps up surveillance on bird flu

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=123948

Ho, May 12, GNA- Dr Ben Aniwa, Volta Regional Veterinary Officer said on Friday that regional, district and local committees in the region have increased their surveillance for the signs of the Avian Influenza (bird flu) Dr Aniwa was speaking to the...

**Gert van der Hoek** · May 14, 2007, 04:00 PM

Re: Bird flu: Ghana on high alert

Bird flu: We are not responsible - Newport

Posted on: 14-May-2007

The Chief Executive of Newport Industries Limited, Mr. Ben Tetteh has dismissed reports linking his company to the outbreak of bird flu in the country.

Newport Industries Limited produces animal feed. It operates a feed manufacturing plant in Tema.

Mr Tetteh told Joy News that since the discovery of Ghana?s first bird flu case some two weeks ago, he has been subjected to all forms of harassment and intimidation.

He attributed the source of the report to his competitors whom he said are seeking to run down his business.

Mr. Tetteh has described the allegations as baseless only calculated to destroy his business.

He said soon after the announcement of outbreak of bird flu in Tema about 10 journalists visited the company?s drying floor without any prior notice to management to film as well as do write-ups on the place.

?But on television every now and then they show our site with another site that my company in particular would not use that type of site for processing fish,? he told Joy News.

MyJoyOnline - Ghana News | Ghana's most comprehensive website. Independent, Fearless and Credible journalism

http://www.myjoyonline.com/archives/news/200705/4561.asp

Ghana News | Ghana's most comprehensive website. Independent, Fearless and Credible journalism

**HenryN** · May 17, 2007, 09:31 AM

Re: Bird flu: Ghana on high alert

403 Access Forbidden

http://www.oie.int/wahid-prod/public.php?page=single_report&pop=1&reportid=5353

Information received on 12/05/2007 from Mr Mensah Agyen-Frempong, , Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Director, Veterinary Services Department, ACCRA, Ghana
Summary
<TABLE class=rep_table cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 cellmargin="0"><TBODY><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Report type</TD><TD class=rep_data width=*>Follow-up report No. 1</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Start date</TD><TD class=rep_data width=*>14/04/2007</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Date of confirmation of event</TD><TD class=rep_data width=*>28/04/2007</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Report date</TD><TD class=rep_data width=*>12/05/2007</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Date submitted to OIE</TD><TD class=rep_data width=*>14/05/2007</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Reason for notification</TD><TD class=rep_data width=*>First occurrence of a listed disease</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Manifestation of disease</TD><TD class=rep_data width=*>Clinical disease</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Causal agent</TD><TD class=rep_data width=*>Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus type A</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Serotype</TD><TD class=rep_data width=*>H5N1</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Nature of diagnosis</TD><TD class=rep_data width=*>Suspicion, Clinical, Laboratory (basic), Necropsy</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Report pertains to</TD><TD class=rep_data width=*>Entire country</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Related reports</TD><TD class=rep_data width=*>

<LI class=rep_list>Immediate notification (03/05/2007)
Follow-up report No. 1 (12/05/2007)

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

New outbreaks <TABLE class=rep_table width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=rep_item_ob width=200>Outbreak 1 </TD><TD class=rep_data_ob width=*>ROBERTS FARM, TEMA MUNICIPAL, GREATER ACCRA</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Date of start of outbreak</TD><TD class=rep_data width=*>21/04/2007</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Outbreak status</TD><TD class=rep_data width=*>Continuing (or date resolved not submitted)</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Epidemiological unit</TD><TD class=rep_data width=*>Farm</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Affected animals</TD><TD><TABLE class=rep_sub_table width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=rep_sub_item width="20%">Species</TD><TD class=rep_sub_item width="16%">Susceptible</TD><TD class=rep_sub_item width="16%">Cases</TD><TD class=rep_sub_item width="16%">Deaths</TD><TD class=rep_sub_item width="16%">Destroyed</TD><TD class=rep_sub_item width="16%">Slaughtered</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=rep_sub_data>Birds</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>325</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>15</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>15</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>310</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>0</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Affected population</TD><TD class=rep_data width=*>layers raised in an intensive system of production</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item_ob width=200>Outbreak 2 </TD><TD class=rep_data_ob width=*>COKER APPIAH'S FARM, TEMA MUNICIPAL, GREATER ACCRA</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Date of start of outbreak</TD><TD class=rep_data width=*>02/05/2007</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Outbreak status</TD><TD class=rep_data width=*>Continuing (or date resolved not submitted)</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Epidemiological unit</TD><TD class=rep_data width=*>Farm</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Affected animals</TD><TD><TABLE class=rep_sub_table width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=rep_sub_item width="20%">Species</TD><TD class=rep_sub_item width="16%">Susceptible</TD><TD class=rep_sub_item width="16%">Cases</TD><TD class=rep_sub_item width="16%">Deaths</TD><TD class=rep_sub_item width="16%">Destroyed</TD><TD class=rep_sub_item width="16%">Slaughtered</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=rep_sub_data>Birds</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>405</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>55</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>55</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>350</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>0</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Affected population</TD><TD class=rep_data width=*>layers raised in an intensive system of production</TD></TR></TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item_ob width=200>Summary of outbreaks</TD><TD class=rep_data_ob width=*>Total outbreaks: 2</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Total animals affected</TD><TD><TABLE class=rep_sub_table width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=rep_sub_item width="20%">Species</TD><TD class=rep_sub_item width="16%">Susceptible</TD><TD class=rep_sub_item width="16%">Cases</TD><TD class=rep_sub_item width="16%">Deaths</TD><TD class=rep_sub_item width="16%">Destroyed</TD><TD class=rep_sub_item width="16%">Slaughtered</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=rep_sub_data>Birds</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>730</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>70</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>70</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>660</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>0</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Outbreak statistics</TD><TD class=rep_data><TABLE class=rep_sub_table width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=rep_sub_item width="20%">Species</TD><TD class=rep_sub_item width="20%">Apparent morbidity rate</TD><TD class=rep_sub_item width="20%">Apparent mortality rate</TD><TD class=rep_sub_item width="20%">Apparent case fatality rate</TD><TD class=rep_sub_item width="20%">Proportion susceptible removed* </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=rep_sub_data>Birds</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>9.59%</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>9.59%</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>100.00%</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>100.00%</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>* Removed from the susceptible population either through death, destruction or slaughter</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Epidemiology <TABLE class=rep_table width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Source of infection</TD><TD class=rep_data width=*>

Unknown or inconclusive

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Control measures <TABLE class=rep_table width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Measures already applied</TD><TD class=rep_data width=*>

<LI class=rep_list>Movement control inside the country <LI class=rep_list>Disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s) <LI class=rep_list>Quarantine <LI class=rep_list>Stamping out <LI class=rep_list>Vaccination permitted
No treatment of affected animals

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Measures to be applied</TD><TD class=rep_data width=*>

None specified

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Diagnostic test results <TABLE class=rep_table width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Laboratory name and type</TD><TD class=rep_data width=*>Accra veterinary laboratory (National laboratory)</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Tests and results</TD><TD><TABLE class=rep_sub_table width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=rep_sub_item width="35%">Species</TD><TD class=rep_sub_item width="40%">Test</TD><TD class=rep_sub_item width="15%">Test date</TD><TD class=rep_sub_item width="10%">Result</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=rep_sub_data>Birds</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>haemagglutination (HA) test</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>28/04/2007</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>Positive</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=rep_sub_data>Birds</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>haemagglutination inhibition test (HIT)</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>28/04/2007</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>Positive</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Laboratory name and type</TD><TD class=rep_data width=*>Accra Veterinary Laboratory (National laboratory)</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Tests and results</TD><TD><TABLE class=rep_sub_table width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=rep_sub_item width="35%">Species</TD><TD class=rep_sub_item width="40%">Test</TD><TD class=rep_sub_item width="15%">Test date</TD><TD class=rep_sub_item width="10%">Result</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=rep_sub_data>Birds</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>rapid tests</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>25/04/2007</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>Positive</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Laboratory name and type</TD><TD class=rep_data width=*>Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (National laboratory)</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Tests and results</TD><TD><TABLE class=rep_sub_table width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=rep_sub_item width="35%">Species</TD><TD class=rep_sub_item width="40%">Test</TD><TD class=rep_sub_item width="15%">Test date</TD><TD class=rep_sub_item width="10%">Result</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=rep_sub_data>Birds</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>reverse transcription ? polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>29/04/2007</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>Positive</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Laboratory name and type</TD><TD class=rep_data width=*>OIE, FAO and National Reference Laboratory for Newcastle Disease and Avian Influenza, PADOVA, ITALY. (OIE?s Reference Laboratory)</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Tests and results</TD><TD><TABLE class=rep_sub_table width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=rep_sub_item width="35%">Species</TD><TD class=rep_sub_item width="40%">Test</TD><TD class=rep_sub_item width="15%">Test date</TD><TD class=rep_sub_item width="10%">Result</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=rep_sub_data>Birds</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>reverse transcription ? polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>09/05/2007</TD><TD class=rep_sub_data>Positive</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Map of outbreak locations <TABLE class=rep_table width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=rep_item width=200>Location of current outbreaks</TD><TD class=rep_data width=*><FORM name=mapform onsubmit="return validate_map_click(this)" action=public.php method=post target=map_window><INPUT class=framed_map type=image height=400 alt="Please wait while the map is generated for your request" width=400 src="http://www.oie.int/wahid-prod/mapserver/temp/117941217877361.png" name=map .> <INPUT type=hidden value=public24ebc96674338f4745c9134d9128e042117941 2180 name=map_file> <INPUT type=hidden value=country_map_interactive name=page> <INPUT type=hidden value="Location of current outbreaks" name=page_title> <INPUT type=hidden value=weekly_report_item name=page_refer> <INPUT type=hidden name=page_info> <INPUT type=hidden value=GHA name=public_country> <INPUT type=hidden value="-4.4599483847618, 4.5044963717461, 2.2912549734116, 11.255699729919" name=extent> <INPUT type=hidden value=2.2504011193911 name=exsize> <INPUT type=hidden value=0 name=pop> <INPUT type=hidden name=button_action> <INPUT type=hidden value="400 400" name=map_size> </FORM>Click on map to zoom in.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

**HenryN** · May 17, 2007, 09:33 AM

Re: Bird flu: Ghana on high alert

Ghana: Update
5/17/07 Ghana Media--According to a national source, the Veterinary Services Department stated that, although other sources were possible, WHO poultry farm testing in Tema found a strain of H5N1 that was close to strains found in Cote d?€™Ivoire, making it the ?€œsure source?€? [of the Tema outbreak]. The source also stated addtional [unspecified] reports linked a Ghana poultry farm to unidentified Cote d?€™Ivoire poultry farms. No further details were provided.
AI Regional Reporting and Surveillance, Ghana

**HenryN** · May 17, 2007, 06:33 PM

Re: Bird flu: Ghana on high alert

Originally posted by niman View Post

Ghana: Update
5/17/07 Ghana Media--According to a national source, the Veterinary Services Department stated that, although other sources were possible, WHO poultry farm testing in Tema found a strain of H5N1 that was close to strains found in Cote dâ€™Ivoire, making it the â€œsure sourceâ€ [of the Tema outbreak]. The source also stated addtional [unspecified] reports linked a Ghana poultry farm to unidentified Cote dâ€™Ivoire poultry farms. No further details were provided.
AI Regional Reporting and Surveillance, Ghana

Although the Ghana isoaltes are closley related to the Ivory Coast isoaltes from turkeys in December, 2006, the Ghana isolates have NA G743A, while the Ivory Coast isolates do not.

Simultaneous H5N1 Acquisitions in Egypt Russia and Ghana

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/05090701/H5N1_Evolution_Egypt_Russia_Ghana.html

Recombinomics Commentary