Poultry consumers assured avian flu outbreaks in Gauteng and North West not a threat

THE Department of Agriculture has announced four outbreaks of avian influenza – the latest at a commercial chicken farm in Randfontein on the West Rand in Gauteng.

Department spokesperson Reggie Ngcobo said three outbreaks have occurred in Gauteng and one in North West.

All affected farms have been quarantined, with control measures being implemented. Ngcobo said it was essential for everyone across South Africa to remain on high alert and “treat any increase in mortalities of poultry and other bird species as potential avian influenza, until proven otherwise”.

He said poultry consumers had no reason to worry as the risk of transmission of the avian flu to humans was very low.

“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,” he said.

The agriculture department said all neighbouring countries had lifted bans on imports of live chicken and unprocessed products from South Africa with the exception of Lesotho which has banned imports from Gauteng.

“Hong Kong notified the department of a temporary suspension of the importation of all poultry – carcass, parts and offal products, including eggs – from affected municipalities in Gauteng and North West,” Ngcobo added.