POULTRY FARMERS ATTEND WORKSHOP IN TECHIMAN (Page 19. Sat Dec 1, 2007)

Story: Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Techiman

A VETERINARY Officer in the Brong Ahafo Region, Dr Agyemang Atuahene Kontor, has suggested the establishment of Biosecurity Schools for poultry farmers as the way forward to completely curb Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in the country.
He stressed that the most effective defence against the spread of Bird Flu was through biosecurity and that should mean clustering together poultry farmers in groups of between 10 and 15 and then taking them through certain practices in poultry management and disease prevention.
Biosecurity is the implementation of policies and practices that prevent infectious diseases from entering poultry farms.
Throwing more light on his suggestion to the Daily Graphic in Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region as a resource person after a workshop on Farm Biosecurity for Poultry Farmers from Nkoranza, Wenchi, Kintampo and Techiman, Dr Kontor insisted that if the farmers went through the management and disease prevention over a period of time, they could adopt and adapt measures that would halt the spread of the disease.
The Poultry Development Board organised the workshop for the poultry farmers to educate them on biosecurity measures to improve upon the system on poultry farms, even in the aftermath of the bird flu outbreak in the country.
He explained that after the adoptation/adaptation of those measures, they would then be placed in categories according to their levels of adoption and adaptation and that those complying excellently, would be identified in what he termed as compartment A, B and so on.
According to Dr Kontor, those in compartment A had a lower risk of disease attacking their farms from outside than for instance those in compartment D who did not practice those poultry management and disease prevention.
The veterinary doctor further indicated that those in compartment A could hence be recommended to easily obtain financial assistance from the banks and at the same time, he said, in the event of disease outbreak in the region or country, it would not be necessary to ban the movement or sale of birds from such farms.
"This is recommended as the next way forward for the poultry industry in Ghana as the Biosecurity Schools concept is being practised elsewhere, especially, the compartmentalisation idea," he said.
He again pointed out that there were biosecurity components, including isolation, which meant the separation of poultry premises from sources of infection, as well as building a fence around specific entry and exit gates.
Dr Kontor also mentioned movement control as another component where the farm management should restrict the movement of people and vehicles in and out of susceptible areas and between farms, to limit exposures, by designating sales point outside farms to prevent retailers entering farms, and that egg trays taken out of farm should never be taken into poultry houses.
On sanitation as a component, the vet indicated that, the avian influenza virus was very sensitive to detergents, disinfectants and even high temperatures, hence the need to disinfect barriers and vehicles, as well as hand wash with soap and water after attending to the birds.
For Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), he said the disease may appear in a flock and many birds may die, either without signs or with minimal signs of depressions, ruffled feathers, no specific clinical signs, no specific pathological signs and different diagnosis.
He, therefore, pointed out that a rapid diagnosis of HAPI was paramount in their early control and eradication, adding, "Report all unusual signs on farms to the nearest veterinary office."