Regional News of Tuesday, 16 September 2014

Source: GNA

Bats invade Dadwen in the Ellembelle district

Residents of Dadwen, a farming community in the Ellembele District of the Western Region are living in fear following the invasion of bats in the town.

The bats which started arriving in the town some days back have now multiplied to more than 700 according to some of the residents of the community.

The fear of the town folks is that bats are one of the major transmitters of the deadly Ebola virus which has claimed and continue to claim thousands of lives across some West Africa countries.

Mr. Joseph Tetteh Sackey, Chief Farmer, told the Ghana News Agency in a telephone interview that a source of worry was that the bats were defecating into river bodies used for various household activities.

He has therefore as a matter of urgency called on health officials and other stakeholders in the sector to support in fighting the bats, adding that, the current situation was frightening.

Charles Ekpale, District Director of Agriculture who confirmed the situation added that his outfit was strategizing to face the current situation.

Meanwhile the District Director of Health Services, Mrs Elizabeth Conney says a team has been dispatched to the town to ascertain the cause of the invasion.

She has therefore advised the residents to take health and safety precautions.