Ghana moves to ban Nigerian poultry over bird flu scare

Government is taking steps to temporarily ban the importation of poultry products from Nigeria into Ghana following a recent upsurge of bird flu in that country.

This according to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture will help prevent a possible outbreak of the disease in Ghana.

Veterinary authorities in Nigeria have reported a severe outbreak of the of the H5N1 virus that has spread to 21 commercial farms in the country.

Reports from the country’s Ministry of Agriculture suggest that over 140,000 birds may have been exposed to the deadly disease. Authorities confirmed the deadly virus had arrived in Lagos, in the southwest, and Kano, in the north, last week.

In an interview with Citi News a Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Hannah Bissiw indicated that the ministry will hold a meeting to implement the temporary ban until the Organization for Animal Health (OIE) clears Nigeria of the disease.

“We will meet to ensure that any form of trade in terms of poultry, eggs or anything that relates to poultry is banned  for the time being until  the situation in Nigeria is put under control,” she said. She however indicated that government will put in place adequate measures to ensure that “our borders are protected” against the disease.