The Ministry of Agriculture is warning that the bird flu outbreak could worsen if Ghanaians keep flouting the ban on hawking of birds.

The Ministry announced the ban on Tuesday as part of measures to contain the outbreak.

This followed the confirmation of traces of the avian influenza virus at the Kantamanto market in Accra.

Deputy Agric Minister Dr. Hannah Bissiw wants poultry dealers to adhere strictly to the directive.

Speaking to Joy News, the Minister said “the importance of what happened at Kantamanto is the ban that we have placed because if this trader was moving around with those birds, the flu would have spread.

“The droppings of affected birds carry the active virus so we don’t want people moving around with their birds”, she said.

Dr Bissiw said it was unfortunate that traders are not taking the ban serious.

The Ministry of Agriculture in May placed a temporary ban on the sale and movement of live birds within the Accra metropolis with immediate effect.

This follows a linkage of the recent outbreak of bird flu in Accra to street vendors by the Veterinary Services Directorate of the ministry.

In a statement, the ministry said the ban is part of measures to prevent more outbreaks.

Farmers have been advised to seek help at the Veterinary Services in case they find sick birds on their farms.