Just News |
The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) announced another outbreak of Avian Influenza (AI) in a commercial chicken farm in Randfontein in Gauteng.
Preceding this outbreak, four outbreaks were detected on other commercial chicken properties. A total of five outbreaks, four in Gauteng and one outbreak in North West. All affected farms have been quarantined, with control measures being implemented.
The department said everyone across the country is once again urged to treat any increase in deaths of poultry and other bird species as potential avian influenza, until proven otherwise. “All increases in mortality rates must be reported to the state veterinarian responsible for the particular area or the relevant provincial director immediately.”
The department further said It must be mentioned that no human infection, due to these circulating strains, had been reported in Europe and thus the zoonotic risk to people is very low, the consumer has no reason to be concerned.
Following the outbreak of Avian Influenza on 13 April 2021, all the neighboring countries have lifted the ban on exports of live chicken and unprocessed products, except Lesotho, which has banned exports from Gauteng. Hong Kong has notified DALRRD of a temporary suspension of the importation of all poultry (carcass, parts and offal) products (including eggs) from the affected municipalities within the Gauteng and North West.
