POULTRY farmers have been placed on the alert following the outbreak of Avian Influenza in Mpumalanga.
An outbreak was initially reported in Zimbabwe on June 2.
The South African Veterinary Authority this week indicated that it had since been notified of high mortalities in a breeder flock in Villiers close to the Mpumalanga border.
“Samples were collected on the farm and have yielded a positive result for a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, H5N8. The Department has agreed with the company to euthanize the birds in affected houses in collaboration with the NSPCA.”
An estimated 24 000 birds had been affected.
“The Mpumalanga Veterinary Authorities are on the farm, assisting with quarantine implementation, culling and disinfection of the farm. The affected farm is on the banks of the Vaal River and it is suspected that wild birds may be involved. The influenza is carried by live birds which make it difficult to control and contain to a particular area. We have intensified our early detection and requested owners to enhance their biosecurity in order to prevent contact with wild birds. “
Vaccination against Avian Influenza is prohibited by law with several reasons for not allowing the vaccination of chickens.
“The most pertinent are that vaccinated birds mask the disease and therefore create an endemic situation; surveillance for absence of disease is also impossible in vaccinated birds as they all test positive.”
The department has since sent out notices to all poultry owners, outlining the biosecurity measures to be taken and detailing how the surveillance will be conducted. This can be found on the DAFF and SAPA websites.
Anyone working with wild birds are asked to report high death numbers to local state veterinarians, animal health technicians or extension officers.
