GHANA – Scientists from Ghana’s Veterinary Service Department and the CSIR – Animal Research Institute have confirmed the presence of Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV) in the nation’s poultry sector.
The virus, which affects the respiratory, reproductive, and renal systems of chickens, has severe economic implications for the industry.
First identified in the USA in the 1930s, IBV has since spread worldwide, with sub-Saharan Africa and Ghana particularly affected.
The detection of IBV comes as a significant challenge for Ghana’s poultry farmers.
Despite the virus’s impact, vaccination against IBV is not practiced in Ghana, complicating efforts to control its spread.
Samples collected from farms across nine regions by the Veterinary Service Department and the Animal Research Institute revealed the virus’s presence, highlighting its extensive reach and the resultant economic losses.
The virus has led to reduced poultry output, lower egg production, and a 5% mortality rate.
In an interview with Channel One News during a stakeholders’ workshop in Koforidua, Senior Research Scientists Dr. Matilda Ayim Akonnor and Dr. Theophilus Odoom discussed their findings on IBV’s prevalence, serotypes, and pathotypes in Ghana.
They emphasized that Infectious Bronchitis is a significant factor behind the closure of many poultry farms in the country.
Dr. Akonnor remarked, “Indeed, we have confirmed that the virus is present in all nine regions we visited. We have taken samples, analyzed some, and confirmed the virus’s presence. We have also identified the serotype that is circulating around the country from outbreak investigations, and we hope to use this information to develop a vaccination schedule for the country’s poultry farmers.”
This revelation deals a blow to an already fragile industry.
In 2022, Ghana produced around 89 million chickens, up from 81 million in 2021, and significantly higher than the 43 million produced in 2009.
Despite this growth, the percentage of domestically produced poultry consumed in Ghana fell from nearly 60% in 2011 to 20%.
Ghana consumes about 460,000 metric tons of poultry meat annually, according to 2022 data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Data from the Ghana National Association of Poultry Farmers and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl) shows that about 40 large-scale commercial poultry farms operate in Ghana, primarily in the Ashanti (13), Bono/Ahafo (12), and Greater Accra (4) regions.
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