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Health News of Saturday, 16 September 2006

Source: GNA

ISD completes education campaign on bird flu in Upper West

Wa, September 16, GNA- A joint campaign team of the Information Services Department and the Veterinary Services Division of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has completed a three-week education campaign on the prevention of the Avian influenza (bird flu) in the country. In all, the team covered a total of 120 towns and villages in the region where the team educated the farming communities and the general public on the symptoms, identification and prevention of bird flu. Briefing the Ghana News Agency at Wa on Saturday on the just ended campaign, Mr Noel Arcton-Tettey, a deputy director of information, and leader of the team said the campaign sponsored by UNICEF was aimed at teaching the people on how best to prevent the dangers of the flu by constantly being vigilant through the observance and monitoring of the health status of their birds.

He said the need for vigilance was very crucial to keeping the flu at bay since the outbreak of the disease had been reported in countries bordering Ghana hence the need to avoid complacency. The team also educated the people on the proper disposal of diseased birds and warned against consumption of diseased or dead birds, adding that the disease could also infect allied domestic animals such dogs, cats and horses.

The campaign on the bird flu which is being carried out throughout the country is on its last stages of completion.