Sunyani, May 10, GNA - Mr. Asante Krobea, the Brong Ahafo Regional Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, has advised the public not to panic about the outbreak of the avian influenza in the country. He said the disease was discovered in the Tema Municipality alone and no other place in the country and that the situation has so far been brought under control.

He told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that the ministry has since been on the alert and has put in place adequate measures to curb it.

Mr Krobea said surveillance and education of farmers as well as the general public on signs and symptoms of the disease has been intensified.

An emergency preparedness team has been set up to visit poultry farms daily to interact with farmers and encourage them to continue with their work without fears, he said.

On restriction of transporting birds from one place to another, the Director said there had not been any order to that effect because such orders could create more fears among the public and would affect the poultry industry in the region.

He said security measures have been taken to enforce the ban on poultry products entering the region from the boarder town of Cote d'Ivoire to ensure that no contaminated bird or egg got into the region. 10 May 07