Outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in commercial poultry farms, Kwahu-West Municipality, Ghana

Abstract

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.