An outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza has been reported on a commercial layers farm in Gauteng, South Africa.
Posting on its website, The World Organisation for Animal Health confirmed the outbreak. According to the OIE report, the disease broke out on the 9th of April 2021, and the incidence was confirmed on the 11th of April 2021.
The affected farm in Johannesburg has since been quarantined with restrictions on the movement of people and chickens put in place to contain the spread of the disease.
South African Poultry Association (SAPA) said the World Health Organisation and the World Organisation of Animal Health confirmed that this strain of the virus was found to not be dangerous to humans.
The greater part of Europe is already grappling with an outbreak of bird flu since 2020.
In 2017, Irvine’s Zimbabwe issued a press statement following an outbreak of avian influenza on one of its farms just outside Harare. The company had to cull thousands of chickens in order to contain the deadly disease.
The recent outbreak in South Africa will likely see the Government of Zimbabwe suspending the importation of poultry products from South Africa until the disease has been contained. Botswana has already banned the importation of poultry from South Africa with effect from 14 April 2021.
If Zimbabwe is to follow suit, this will likely see a serious shortage of day-old chicks as local producers are already grappling with demand. Prices of poultry products will also set to increase.
In South Africa, there is likely going to be a shortage of eggs and a probable increase in the costs of eggs by about 20%.
Avian influenza is normally spread by migratory birds and poultry farmers in Zimbabwe are urged to be vigilant – observe strict biosecurity, avoid exposing free-range chickens to wild birds, and report any unusual mortalities of chickens at their farms to the nearest veterinary office.
