8 February 2006
The Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture wishes to advise the public that
on being alerted through media about the deaths of chickens around Frankfort
and Peelton villages in King Williamâs Town, investigations were set in motion
immediately. A team of Animal Health Technicians under the leadership of Dr
Luis Amaral, the Manager: Veterinary Services who are responsible for the
Amathole District stationed in Zwelitsha conducted investigations in the
affected areas.
Preliminary information made available revealed that there were reported
mortalities among chickens around September 2005. Subsequent to investigations,
a diagnosis of Newcastle disease was made. It was as a result of such diagnosis
that the Department issued a warning statement to the poultry industry and the
backyard chicken owners to prioritise vaccination of chickens against Newcastle
disease so as to minimize losses associated with this disease.
In the villages visited during the course of this investigation all chickens
that were observed were in good health. This is also confirmed by the picture
that was taken by the reporter which appeared in the Wednesday, 25 January
2006, edition of the Daily Dispatch. The only bird that was witnessed sick was
the duck which was sacrificed by the owners to the State for purposes of
investigation. This duck was euthanised and samples thereof were taken and are
on their way to the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute (OVI), the departmental
referral laboratory in order to test for both Newcastle disease and Avian
Influenza. The results of the investigation will be made available as soon as
they come back from the laboratory.
The public must rest assured that regular mandatory surveys are being
conducted to rule out the presence of Avian Influenza in this Province after
the Departmentâs successful campaign to get rid of this disease during 2004.
All samples sent so far have come back negative for Avian Influenza.
Moreover, the strain of Avian Influenza that was diagnosed in this province
(H5N2) only affected ostriches and did not have any effect on chickens. The
Eastern Cape department is therefore confident that there is no threat of Avian
Influenza in this Province and will not relegate its duty toward animal disease
surveillance.
For more information contact:
Fikile Black
Communications Manager
Tel: (040) 609 3402
Cell: 082 578 1437
Dr Lubabalo Mrwebi
Tel: (040) 609 3547
Cell: 082 781 0217
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Eastern Cape Provincial
Government
8 February 2006
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecprov.gov.za/)
