Astral site isolates high-risk strain

Astral Foods confirmed a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza known as H5N8 has been identified and isolated at one of its poultry breeding sites in the Villiers district on the Gauteng-Free State border.

Astral Foods confirmed a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza known as H5N8 has been identified and isolated at one of its poultry breeding sites in the Villiers district on the Gauteng-Free State border.

This has been implemented following the higher risk exposure due to global outbreaks of avian influenza and an outbreak in Zimbabwe earlier in June.

“Astral assures all stakeholders that everything is being done to contain this incident. If this incident is contained to that specific site and/or farm Astral’s contingency plans do ensure continued operations with no impact,” Gary Arnold, MD of agriculture services at Astral, said on Thursday.

“Astral has been on heightened alert following the recent avian influenza outbreak in Zimbabwe,” Arnold said. “The affected birds are breeding stock and not broilers for meat production. In addition, this virus is not known to infect humans.”

The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced earlier in June the immediate suspension of all trade in live poultry, meat and eggs from Zimbabwe. It also heightened inspections of all freight consignments, including all private and public vehicles at all ports of entry in SA.

South African Poultry Association CEO Kevin Lovell said on Thursday there was no risk to humans and the industry was working with government to halt the outbreak. “The most important thing is that this is the first time we have had highly pathogenic avian influenza in SA [among chickens],” he said.

There had been outbreaks among ostriches, but these had not been this particular strain.