Outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Commercial Poultry Farms, Kwahu-West Municipality, Ghana

Introduction: Avian Influenza is a highly contagious viral infection that mainly affects domesticated birds. The Kwahu-West Municipal Veterinary Office was notified of sudden deaths of birds on a poultry farm in June-2018. Seven days later, a second farm sited 100 meters from the index case-farm als...

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Main Authors: Francis Sena Nuvey, Basil Benduri Kaburi, Esther Dsani, Pascal Kingsley Mwin, Eli Dzandu, Timothy Wekura, Joseph Kofi Abuh, Donne Kofi Ameme, Ernest Kenu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: African Field Epidemiology Network 2022-05-01
Series:Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.afenet-journal.net/content/article/5/10/full/
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author Francis Sena Nuvey
Basil Benduri Kaburi
Esther Dsani
Pascal Kingsley Mwin
Eli Dzandu
Timothy Wekura
Joseph Kofi Abuh
Donne Kofi Ameme
Ernest Kenu
author_facet Francis Sena Nuvey
Basil Benduri Kaburi
Esther Dsani
Pascal Kingsley Mwin
Eli Dzandu
Timothy Wekura
Joseph Kofi Abuh
Donne Kofi Ameme
Ernest Kenu
author_sort Francis Sena Nuvey
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Avian Influenza is a highly contagious viral infection that mainly affects domesticated birds. The Kwahu-West Municipal Veterinary Office was notified of sudden deaths of birds on a poultry farm in June-2018. Seven days later, a second farm sited 100 meters from the index case-farm also recorded bird deaths. We investigated to confirm the causative agent, identify its source, and implement control measures. Methods: We conducted a survey of six farms and human contacts in the area. A suspected case-farm of HPAI was any farm in Nkawkaw with sudden death of bird(s), with or without clinical signs of HPAI from June 1 to July 10, 2018. Six bird carcasses were collected on affected farms for laboratory confirmation of the causative agent. We interviewed owners of affected farms and assessed the farm environments, as well as clinical status of human contacts. Results: A total 2,280 birds were affected on two adjacent farms. HPAI-H5N1 was confirmed for all samples investigated. The index case-farm with 1,438 birds, reported 30 bird-deaths, 24 hours after receiving birds from an HPAI-H5N1 confirmed farm in Boankra in the Ashanti Region, 84 km away from the index case-farm. The second case-farm recorded bird deaths 7-days later. Both farms operated aluminum sheet-roofed metallic-mesh pens without fencing. All twenty-three human contacts were asymptomatic of flu, after 14-days follow-up. Conclusion: This HPAI-H5N1 outbreak was likely imported from the Ashanti Region of Ghana, due to lax livestock movement regulations and biosecurity measures. Disinfection and depopulation exercises effectively controlled the outbreak. We recommend strict implementation of biosafety measures on farms and at entry points in the district.
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spelling doaj-art-663d85e2435a4337a879c802da0ea4c52025-08-20T03:47:32ZengAfrican Field Epidemiology NetworkJournal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health2664-28242022-05-0152https://doi.org/10.37432/jieph.2022.5.2.58Outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Commercial Poultry Farms, Kwahu-West Municipality, GhanaFrancis Sena Nuvey0Basil Benduri Kaburi1Esther Dsani2Pascal Kingsley Mwin3Eli Dzandu4Timothy Wekura5Joseph Kofi Abuh6Donne Kofi Ameme7Ernest Kenu8Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana, 2Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Health, Accra, GhanaGhana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana, 2Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Health, Accra, GhanaGhana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana; Veterinary Service Department, Accra, GhanaGhana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana; Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Health, Accra, GhanaGhana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana; Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Health, Accra, GhanaGhana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, GhanaVeterinary Service Department, Accra, GhanaGhana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana; Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Health, Accra, GhanaGhana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana; Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Health, Accra, GhanaIntroduction: Avian Influenza is a highly contagious viral infection that mainly affects domesticated birds. The Kwahu-West Municipal Veterinary Office was notified of sudden deaths of birds on a poultry farm in June-2018. Seven days later, a second farm sited 100 meters from the index case-farm also recorded bird deaths. We investigated to confirm the causative agent, identify its source, and implement control measures. Methods: We conducted a survey of six farms and human contacts in the area. A suspected case-farm of HPAI was any farm in Nkawkaw with sudden death of bird(s), with or without clinical signs of HPAI from June 1 to July 10, 2018. Six bird carcasses were collected on affected farms for laboratory confirmation of the causative agent. We interviewed owners of affected farms and assessed the farm environments, as well as clinical status of human contacts. Results: A total 2,280 birds were affected on two adjacent farms. HPAI-H5N1 was confirmed for all samples investigated. The index case-farm with 1,438 birds, reported 30 bird-deaths, 24 hours after receiving birds from an HPAI-H5N1 confirmed farm in Boankra in the Ashanti Region, 84 km away from the index case-farm. The second case-farm recorded bird deaths 7-days later. Both farms operated aluminum sheet-roofed metallic-mesh pens without fencing. All twenty-three human contacts were asymptomatic of flu, after 14-days follow-up. Conclusion: This HPAI-H5N1 outbreak was likely imported from the Ashanti Region of Ghana, due to lax livestock movement regulations and biosecurity measures. Disinfection and depopulation exercises effectively controlled the outbreak. We recommend strict implementation of biosafety measures on farms and at entry points in the district.https://www.afenet-journal.net/content/article/5/10/full/asian influenzapoultryoutbreakbiosecurity
spellingShingle Francis Sena Nuvey
Basil Benduri Kaburi
Esther Dsani
Pascal Kingsley Mwin
Eli Dzandu
Timothy Wekura
Joseph Kofi Abuh
Donne Kofi Ameme
Ernest Kenu
Outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Commercial Poultry Farms, Kwahu-West Municipality, Ghana
Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health
asian influenza
poultry
outbreak
biosecurity
title Outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Commercial Poultry Farms, Kwahu-West Municipality, Ghana
title_full Outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Commercial Poultry Farms, Kwahu-West Municipality, Ghana
title_fullStr Outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Commercial Poultry Farms, Kwahu-West Municipality, Ghana
title_full_unstemmed Outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Commercial Poultry Farms, Kwahu-West Municipality, Ghana
title_short Outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Commercial Poultry Farms, Kwahu-West Municipality, Ghana
title_sort outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in commercial poultry farms kwahu west municipality ghana
topic asian influenza
poultry
outbreak
biosecurity
url https://www.afenet-journal.net/content/article/5/10/full/
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