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The confirmation of H5N1 in Togo has apparently set off a series of emergency actions on the part of the government in a move to contain the virus. Culling has taken place, trade in birds is restricted, and people potentially exposed to sick chickens are being monitored.
Togo takes emergency action against Avian Flu outbreak
Lome Togo (PANA) , After the discovery last week of Avian Influenza (AI) virus in a Sigbehoue poultry farm in the north-western suburb of Aneho city in south-east of Togo, the government on Wednesday announced "emergency" measures to curb the outbreak. According to the Inter-ministerial Committee on Avian Influenza, the affected area has been sealed off, and all the poultry there slaughtered, incinerated and buried underground.
In a news conference held Wednesday, the Committee, based on the findings of the latest analyses conducted in Italy, confirmed anew the presence of the H5N1 virus in Togo, and announced measures to curb the phenomenon.
"We have prohibited poultry circulation, and decided to close all the poultry markets in the Lakes prefecture, the area where the virus was found," said Yves Madow Nagou, Togolese minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fishing.
The people who had contact with the poultry are put under the control of the health services, a measure that, according to the minister, will help to follow up and protect them.
In addition, the Committee urged the populations to report any massive poultry deaths, so that the relevant services can operate and implement the relevant measures. Such measures may include slaughtering all the poultry stock in the affected area, and sealing off the contaminated area.
According to the Togolese authorities, there will be no slaughtering without compensations. Every slaughtered poultry head will be compensated up to between 2,500 and 5,000 CFA francs.
The discovery of the first AI case in Togo was last week, and it was first confirmed by laboratory analyses in Accra, Ghana.
The contaminated farm, early June, had lost 50% of the 5,574 poultry stock it was hosting.
In February 2006, the Togolese government had set up an Inter- ministerial Committee responsible for implementing a plan of action to fight avian flu.
The Committee had prohibited, since last October, the importation of "live poultry and by-products" from countries where the virus was reported.
Lome Togo (PANA) - 28/06/2007
