Zorena Jantze
SEVERAL poultry compartments in South Africa are temporarily banned from exporting to Namibia due to an outbreak of highly contagious bird flu (avian influenza) strain.
A poultry farm in the Western Cape is the latest facility to report cases of bird flu alongside six other farms in Gauteng and the North West.
The initial outbreak in the East Rand as well as the outbreak in North West has been identified as HPAI H5N1. The final results are awaited for the type of bird flu from the other outbreaks.
René Werner, chairman of the Poultry Producers’ Association of Namibia, says that if the disease does not spread further in South Africa, only exports from the affected farms will be banned.
“The rest of the country is still safe to export. However, this may change in the next few weeks if the disease is not properly controlled. If Namibians imported from the affected areas before the ban was introduced, a state veterinarian will visit those farms to ensure that the poultry is not affected. The chance that the disease will affect Namibia in this way is minimal.” Werner noted.
Bird flu is highly contagious to poultry and all birds. Symptoms in poultry range from a lack of energy, appetite, and coordination; purple discolouration or swelling of various body parts; diarrhea; nasal discharge; coughing; sneezing; to reduced egg production; or softened/deformed eggs. A sudden death ensues.
At this stage, no treatment for the disease is available.
To prevent bird flu to some extent, the biodiversity on farms must be monitored. Cages must also be cleaned and secured regularly so that animals outside the cage do not have access to them.
If bird flu breaks out on a farm, all poultry must be destroyed and buried to prevent the spread of the disease. Producers then have to start all over again.
