Avian flu threat to KZN poultry
THE KwaZulu- Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development yesterday warned that it could be forced to cull all the chickens in areas where cases of avian influenza are found.
Spokesperson Khaye Nkwanyana said the department viewed the outbreak of the disease seriously because of the proximity of the province to Mpumalanga – the area in which the outbreak was first reported. “The department has been in touch with veterinary services to have a special meeting today where a monitoring team for different districts would be established,” he said.
He said that thus far no case of the bird disease had been reported in the province.
Last week the South African Veterinary Authority was notified of a high mortality rate of breeder flocks in Villiers.
Subsequent test results proved positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N8) – a winter disease that affects all birds.
The outbreak in the farm near the border of Mpumalanga province follows one from Zimbabwe detected earlier this month.
Nkwanyana said the province was among those with a high number of indigenous chickens and therefore at risk.
“The team will comprise veterinarians and environmental care services will devise a plan to deal with the matter should avian influenza be found in the province. The NSPCA will also be involved should an elimination strategy be needed.
“Ordinary subsistence farmers will be informed on how to notice the disease and what to watch for,” Nkwanyana said.
A poultry veterinarian who asked not to be named said implementing the bio-security measures in commercial facilities could help curb the spread of the influenza.
“Trucks transporting live chickens and eggs from one farm to another would have to be thoroughly sprayed with disinfectants,” the vet said.
“Workers in these farms would also have to leave behind the uniform they wore when going to other farms, which might prove difficult.”
The National African Farmers Union chairman Mandla Buthelezi said that small farmers would bear the biggest brunt of the disease because they could not afford the expensive medicine and relied on the department for assistance.
“We rely on government veterinarians to also create awareness through traditional leadership in areas belonging to traditional leaders and councillors in municipal areas. The government should also use “buffer organisations” like ours to spread the word since we have contact with farmers on the ground,” said Buthelezi.
Nkwanyana said the department would only ask the provincial government to make a declaration for Treasury to release funds in extreme cases where the effect of the influenza was perceived to be very high and responsible for a great loss to poultry farmers.