chicken |
Alan Winde,
Minister of Economic Opportunities and the state vet team briefed media
on the current regional outbreak of avian influenza in the province.
Highlights include:
17 cases confirmed
46 ostrich farms under quarantine
In excess of 200 000 chickens have died or been culled
Vets conducting province-wide survey and surveillance
Farms urged to put strict biosecurity measures in place immediately
The Western Cape Government today (7 September 2017) released an update on the status of avian influenza in the province.
Alan Winde,
Minister of Economic Opportunities, and the state vet team deployed to
deal with the outbreak, briefed the media at the Ministry of Economic
Opportunities this afternoon.
There are currently
17 properties which have been confirmed to be infected with highly
pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), strain H5N8, in the province.
Minister Winde
said: "We've made significant resources available in support of our
quest to contain the spread of the disease. But, we need the cooperation
of the entire affected sector - private and public - if we are to win
this battle."
After a case is
confirmed by positive lab tests, it is reported to the National
Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF).
DAFF officially
notifies the OIE (also known as the World Organisation for Animal
Health) as well as our trading partners. The OIE then notifies its 71
member countries, so they may put preventative measures in place.
In respect of the
above-mentioned cases, the formal notification process has been
concluded, and these cases can therefore be made public.
Detail below:
Area
SpeciesGroup
Species
SpeciesType
Heidelberg
Ratites
Ostriches
Commercial
Heidelberg
Ratites
Ostriches
Commercial
Heidelberg
Ratites
Ostriches
Commercial
Swellendam
Wild
Guinea fowl
Wild
Heidelberg
Ratites
Ostriches
Commercial
Cape Town
Poultry
Layer chickens
Commercial
Heidelberg
Wild
Rock pigeon, Spur-winged goose
Wild
Heidelberg
Wild
Blue cranes
Wild
Cape Town
Poultry
Ducks
Commercial
Worcester
Wild
Laughing dove
Wild
Heidelberg
Ratites
Ostriches
Commercial
Heidelberg
Wild
Guinea fowl
Wild
Caledon
Wild
Guinea fowl
Wild
Cape Town
Poultry
Layer chickens
Commercial
Heidelberg
Ratites
Ostriches
Commercial
Heidelberg
Ratites
Ostriches
Commercial
Oudtshoorn
Ratites
Ostriches
Commercial
The following control measures are in place at the ostrich farms:
All farms within 10km of an infected farm are under quarantine;
Movement control of eggs and chicks is in place within the quarantined area;
Slaughter of birds only allowed after a farm has tested negative;
In total, 19 farms are under quarantine in Heidelberg and 27 in the Oudtshoorn area.
The following control measures are in place at the poultry farms:
Positive farms are placed under quarantine;
Infected and in contact birds are culled humanely;
Farm is cleaned and disinfected to deactivate any remaining virus before quarantine is lifted;
Increased monitoring and testing if necessary of all properties with birds in a 3km radius surrounding an infected farm
As a further
control measure, the vets have this week launched an interactive survey
with farmers and bird owners in the surrounding areas of infected
properties. Properties who do not complete the survey, and who are
within 3km of an infected farm, will be visited by an animal health
technician.
Biosecurity is the
most important method of preventing avian influenza from spreading. We
are urging farmers to implement the following measures with immediate
effect.
Keep poultry and
other birds away from wild birds and their body fluids, through keeping
them indoors, or using screens, fencing or nets;
Access to your property should be restricted as far as possible;
Vehicles should be disinfected upon entering and exiting your property
Do not allow any people who have had contact with poultry in the last 48 hours onto your property;
The use of footbaths upon entry and exit to the poultry house;
Remove items that attract wild birds such as mortalities or spilled feed;
Preferably do not handle other birds, and disinfect your hands or any in-contact clothing afterwards.
Minister Winde
said: "One of my biggest concerns is the impact of this outbreak on the
economy. At just one farm, 96 jobs are under threat. Two affected
poultry farms have also indicated they are considering closing down.
"We are aware of
one major poultry company which employs over 2 000 people. There are an
estimated 29 million birds in the commercial poultry sector in the
Western Cape, and approximately185 000 backyard chickens.
"The ostrich sector
provides around 15 000 direct jobs and indirectly 100 000 people depend
on this sector for their livelihoods. Our economists have started
mapping the Western Cape's avian economy
"We know the
decreased supply of poultry products in the market will also put
pressure on food prices; a further strain on households."
To support workers
at affected farms, where culling may have taken place, the state vets
are liaising with the Department of Social Development to ensure social
workers are made available to support affected workers.
In terms of
compensation to affected farms, DAFF is mandated to determine
appropriate compensation, and is investigating draft compensation
guidelines.
Recommendations
from the OIE regarding the role of compensation in disease control
indicate that compensation should only cover direct losses and do so at a
level between 75% and 90% of market value.
Minister Winde said
that worldwide, there had been no reported cases of people falling ill
after being in contact with infected birds.
"Although we have
no reported cases of people being infected with this strain of avian
influenza, we are urging people in contact with infected birds to take
precautions. We need the cooperation of the public to stop the spread of
this disease."
Poultry workers and
abattoir workers and those who dress their own poultry are most at
risk. People should only handle dead bird carcasses with gloves, or
disinfect their hands after handling carcasses. Poultry products from
grocery stores are safe for consumption.
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