3 July 2006
A small outbreak of Avian Influenza was detected on an ostrich farm
approximately 30km west of Mossel Bay in the Western Cape Province. After a few
ostriches became sick, swift reaction by private veterinarians and laboratories
ensured that the outbreak was rapidly reported to the government veterinary
authorities.
Over the weekend, the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute characterised the
virus as an H5N2 strain that is in no way related to the highly pathogenic H5N1
strain that has caused large scale poultry mortalities in the Far East, Europe
and Northern Africa. The H5N2 strain that was detected near Mossel Bay seems
rather similar to the one that South Africa eradicated successfully from
ostriches in 2004/05 and that never crossed over to chickens. South African
ostrich and poultry meat remains safe for consumption.
The national and Western Cape provincial departments of Agriculture, with
full support from industry and the Local Disaster Management structures, took
immediate and effective action. Preliminary surveillance indicates that the
outbreak is probably limited to the single farm on which it was detected and
which has been put under quarantine with the subsequent destruction of all 60
ostriches. It is hoped that, with the support of all role-players, the outbreak
can be curtailed rapidly and that South Africaâs export status for ostriches
and poultry will not be affected. Negotiations with our trade partners have
started.
Contact:
Steve Galane
Tel: (012) 319 7312
Cell: 083 635 7346
E-mail: smais@nda.agric.za
Issued by: Department of Agriculture
3 July 2006
Source: Department of Agriculture (http://www.nda.agric.za)
