North West has recorded its first cases of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5 and H7). The department of agriculture and rural development said a further four cases of bird flu are being investigated.
Director for veterinary services Dr Langa Madyibi said the outbreaks are largely in layer facilities.
According to the department, as part of the precautionary measures, quarantine notices have been issued and a proposal for culling the affected farms has been issued.
READ MORE: Avian influenza shocker: 2.7 million chickens culled
Crisis looming
Six of the nine provinces have reported an outbreak, prompting the poultry industry to be anxious. Farmers are already predicting a shortage of poultry products during the festive season and skyrocketing prices which will hit the consumer’s pockets hard.
Madyibi said the spread of the disease was caused by the movement of poultry animals from one area to another. He emphasised that should the need arise for a ban on the movement of poultry products, it would be enforced.
“That is one area that we should be cautious about. The disease also originates from wild birds, so contact from wild birds and our chicken houses must be equally avoided at all costs.
“The products that come from affected farms have the potential to affect human beings, so it is very important to avoid eating meat or eggs from these animals,” he said.
Govt working around the clock
Madyibi urged communities to report irregular mortality cases to the nearest veterinary offices in their areas for an investigation to be done.
According to the department, there is currently no vaccination for the disease, so the only plan is for farmers and communities to exercise high biosecurity measures to prevent such outbreaks.
Madyibi said the government is working around the clock with departmental officials on the ground to assess other farms.
He, however, said communities needed to play their part and reach out to the department through veterinary officers as the only way for the province and the country to overcome the disease is through collaboration between the communities and government.
Banning of imports from SA
Meanwhile, Namibia, one of South Africa’s biggest poultry exporting countries, has banned poultry products from South Africa, with other neighbouring countries likely to do the same in the not-to-distant future.
The suspension includes importing and in-transit movement of live poultry, birds, and poultry products from South Africa.
“The suspension was prompted by the current alarming spread of HPAI in commercial poultry in export-approved poultry compartments.
“Therefore, the need to reinforce the control measures in order to prevent possible introduction of HPAI into Namibia through poultry and poultry products,” the suspension letter stated.
Tough decisions
One of the biggest layers of facilities Hy-Line have stated that one of their farms has been affected by HPA which would affect chick shortages in the long run.
Managing director Andre van der Merwe said to cover the fixed costs, prices of the chicks will increase and this was done as a last resort from their side to keep operations going and save jobs.
“The affected flock represents a significant 55% of our current breeder stock, leaving us with 30 000 unaffected breeders.
“To ensure fairness, we will be adjusting orders based on egg availability and market conditions in the coming weeks.,” he said.
Fair Play Movement said in a statement that the new strain of avian influenza (bird flu) spreading across South Africa is a double blow for poultry producers.
“Firstly they lose millions of chickens, which have to be culled to help curb the outbreak. And secondly, the South African government refuses to compensate farmers for the healthy birds it orders them to cull.
“The new strain is more deadly and spreads more rapidly than the other major strain circulating in South Africa. This is the worst bird flu outbreak the country has experienced, and it has contributed to profit warnings from two of the three listed poultry companies,” the statement said.
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