Dr. Emmanuel Kwao Pecku, the Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Veterinary Officer, has confirmed that there has been a case of a suspected bird flu outbreak at Stardon farms in Bethlehem, a community in the Kpone – Katamanso.
About 13,000 birds were culled on the farm after the case was confirmed.
He stated that the veterinary officers were working tirelessly to contain the situation. Furthermore, he added that the situation was an issue of concern and that the poultry industry is at risk of suffering a major setback
Dr. Pecku advised poultry farmers to adhere to strict health conditions to protect their birds from the outbreak. He petitioned the government through the Agricultural Ministry to adopt measures to curb the spread of avian influenza (bird flu) in the country.
Impact on Human Health
Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is a virus that can infect not just birds but also people and other animals. The majority of the virus’s variants only affect birds. The most prevalent strain of avian flu is H5N1.
The virus was first identified in humans in 1997, and it has since killed up to 60% of people who have contracted it, according to the World Health Organization. The virus is not known to pass from person to person at this time. However, some specialists are concerned that H5N1 could eventually threaten humans with a pandemic.
The outlook for bird flu infection depends on the severity of the infection and the type of influenza virus causing it. H5N1 has a high mortality rate, while other types don’t. Some potential complications include sepsis (a possibly fatal inflammatory response to bacteria and other germs) pneumonia, organ failure, and acute respiratory distress.
Impact on Poultry Farmers
Farmers will face economic losses due to the death of their birds since a great percentage of their revenue comes from the sale of poultry. Some of these poultry farmers may also owe large amounts of borrowed capital with interests piling up, making it difficult for them to pay their creditors. These farmers will also lose their cycles of production as a result of the bird flu. This further deepens the plight of the poultry farmers.
Impact on the Agricultural Sector
Bird flu adversely affects not just the poultry farmer but also the agricultural sector as a whole. It leads to a decline in collective demand, generating larger declines in national income and output. There is also an increased cost of protein and the loss of a relatively inexpensive source of food (poultry products) such as eggs possibly resulting in increased levels of sub-optimal protein and energy consumption.
It may also lead to decreased labour on the farms as some of the farmers will also be infected by the virus, leading to low productivity.