Accra, June 11, GNA - The Minister of Health, Dr George Sipa Yankey, on Thursday called on security agencies along the ports of the country to be extra vigilance in the detection of AH1N1 virus (Swine Flu).

The Minister has also called on the Ghana Airport Authority to inform all aircrafts entering the country to report all passengers suspected of having AH1N1 virus also known as swine flu to the Control Tower before arrival at the Kotoka International Airport. A statement signed by Dr Yankey in Accra has instructed the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service to direct all regional directors of health services to ensure that the security agencies along the border towns were well sensitized on the likely spread of the virus. The Director-General should work with the Country Representative of the World Health Organisation to ensure that the necessary drugs were available in sufficient quantities to deal with any outbreak should it occur.

The statement appealed to the National Disaster Management Organisation to scale-up all emergency plans outlined whilst all measures already instituted should be stepped up. It called for the maintenance of cleanliness and the cooking of pork should be above 70 degree Celsius. Ghana has not yet identified any case and remains on high alert. 11 June 09