SOUTHERN CAPE NEWSFLASH - There are currently 17 properties which have been confirmed to be infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), strain H5N8, 46 ostrich farms are under quarantine and an excess of 200 000 chickens have died or been culled in the province.
This is according to an update on the status of avian influenza in the province by the Western Cape Government on Thursday 7 September. Alan Winde, Minister of Economic Opportunities and the state vet team were deployed to deal with the outbreak.
Farms are urged to put strict biosecurity measures in place immediately. “We need the cooperation of the entire affected sector – private and public – if we are to win this battle,” said Winde.
In respect of the above-mentioned cases, the formal notification process has been concluded and these cases can therefore be made public. In total, 19 farms are under quarantine in Heidelberg and 27 in the Oudtshoorn area.
The following control measures are in place at the poultry farms
• Positive farms are placed under quarantine;
• Infected and in contact birds are culled humanely;
• Farm is cleaned and disinfected to deactivate any remaining virus before quarantine is lifted;
• Increased monitoring and testing if necessary of all properties with birds in a 3km radius surrounding an infected farm
As a further control measure, the vets have launched an interactive survey with farmers and bird owners in the surrounding areas of infected properties.
Properties who do not complete the survey and who are within 3km of an infected farm, will be visited by an animal health technician.
Winde said: “One of my biggest concerns is the impact of this outbreak on the economy. The ostrich sector provides around 15 000 direct jobs and indirectly 100 000 people depend on this sector for their livelihoods.
"We know the decreased supply of poultry products in the market will also put pressure on food prices; a further strain on households.”
Read more in next week’s South Cape Forum, as well as online.
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