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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Troop education and avian influenza surveillance in military barracks in Ghana, 2011
BMC Public Health, Volume 12, No. 1, Article 957, Year 2012
Notification
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Description
Background: Influenza A viruses that cause highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) also infect humans. In many developing countries such as Ghana, poultry and humans live in close proximity in both the general and military populations, increasing risk for the spread of HPAI from birds to humans. Respiratory infections such as influenza are especially prone to rapid spread among military populations living in close quarters such as barracks making this a key population for targeted avian influenza surveillance and public health education. Method. Twelve military barracks situated in the coastal, tropical rain forest and northern savannah belts of the country were visited and the troops and their families educated on pandemic avian influenza. Attendants at each site was obtained from the attendance sheet provided for registration. The seminars focused on zoonotic diseases, influenza surveillance, pathogenesis of avian influenza, prevention of emerging infections and biosecurity. To help direct public health policies, a questionnaire was used to collect information on animal populations and handling practices from 102 households in the military barracks. Cloacal and tracheal samples were taken from 680 domestic and domesticated wild birds and analysed for influenza A using molecular methods for virus detection. Results: Of the 1028 participants that took part in the seminars, 668 (65%) showed good knowledge of pandemic avian influenza and the risks associated with its infection. Even though no evidence of the presence of avian influenza (AI) infection was found in the 680 domestic and wild birds sampled, biosecurity in the households surveyed was very poor. Conclusion: Active surveillance revealed that there was no AI circulation in the military barracks in April 2011. Though participants demonstrated good knowledge of pandemic avian influenza, biosecurity practices were minimal. Sustained educational programs are needed to further strengthen avian influenza surveillance and prevention in military barracks. © 2012 Odoom et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Odoom, John Kofi
Ghana, Accra
Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research
Bel-Nono, Samuel O.
Ghana, Accra
Ministry of Defence
Rodgers, David
Ghana, Accra
Ministry of Defence
Agbenohevi, Prince Godfred
Ghana, Accra
Ministry of Defence
Dafeamekpor, Courage
Ghana, Accra
Ministry of Defence
Sowa, Roland M.L.
Ghana, Accra
Ministry of Defence
Danso, Fenteng
Ghana, Accra
Ministry of Food and Agriculture Ghana
Tettey, Reuben
Ghana, Accra
Ministry of Food and Agriculture Ghana
Suu-Ire, Richard Dery
Ghana, Accra
Game and Wildlife
Bonney, Joseph Humphrey Kofi
Ghana, Accra
Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research
Asante, Ivy Asantewaa
Ghana, Accra
Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research
Aboagye, James Odame
Ghana, Accra
Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research
Abana, Christopher Zaab Yen
Ghana, Accra
Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research
Frimpong, Joseph Asamoah
Ghana, Accra
Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research
Kronmann, Karl C.
Ghana, Accra
Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research
Egypt, Cairo
U.s. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3, Egypt
Oyofo, Buhari Anthony
Egypt, Cairo
U.s. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3, Egypt
Ampofo, William Kwabena
Ghana, Accra
Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research
Statistics
Citations: 17
Authors: 17
Affiliations: 5
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1186/1471-2458-12-957
e-ISSN:
14712458
Research Areas
Infectious Diseases
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Locations
Ghana