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The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has said even though Ghanaians are at risk of getting infected with Bird Flu, ‘there is no cause for alarm’.

The Ministry received affirmation from the International Reference Laboratory of the World Association of Animal Health (OIE), about the outbreak of bird flu (Avian influenza or H5N1) in Ghana.

Samples were taken from some poultry farms in Achimota and Tema in May 2015 by the Accra Veterinary Laboratory and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, after reports emerged that there was a possible outbreak of the disease in Ghana.

The samples were again taken to Italy for further tests to be conducted and results confirmed the outbreak of Avian influenza.

Speaking to the issue in an interview on PEACE FM morning show ‘Kokrokoo’ Thursday, Deputy Agric Minister, Dr. Hannah Bissiw said even though there has not been any human infection, Ghanaians need to be careful and ensure that they don’t come into direct contact with sick birds.

She urged the public to desist from slaughtering sick birds but rather report them to the Veterinary Services Department.

“Once you get into contact with any affected bird, the possibility of you getting it is high…it doesn’t also mean that it is so dangerous that we have to stop eating birds. For you to get H5NI, you would have come in contact with a sick bed or fed on it in a very wrong manner…when a person is infected, it is fatal and because of that we are raising the awareness…we do not know the source or where it came from but we plead with the public to avoid slaughtering sick poultry and prevent any human infection” she added.