More than 7.5-milllion chickens culled due to avian flu outbreak
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The South African poultry industry has lost more than 7.5-million chickens due to bird flu, placing it under severe economic strain.
The virus was detected in April in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, then spread to other provinces. The South African Poultry Association (Sapa) said the country was affected by two strains of the virus, H5N1 and a new strain identified as H7N6.
At least five-million commercial layers and more than 2.5-million broiler breeders were culled after the birds became infected in what is said to be the country’s worst bird flu outbreak, Sapa said.
However, the country won’t run out of eggs or chicken, and consumers shouldn’t be concerned about chicken meat or egg quality, said Sapa general manager Izaak Breitenbach.
The department of agriculture said it is “embarking on the efficiency improvement in issuing import permits for egg products to ensure sufficient supplies for consumers”. It added that minister Thoko Didiza is looking at the possibility of vaccinations.
The virus was detected in April in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, then spread to other provinces. The South African Poultry Association (Sapa) said the country was affected by two strains of the virus, H5N1 and a new strain identified as H7N6.
At least five-million commercial layers and more than 2.5-million broiler breeders were culled after the birds became infected in what is said to be the country’s worst bird flu outbreak, Sapa said.
However, the country won’t run out of eggs or chicken, and consumers shouldn’t be concerned about chicken meat or egg quality, said Sapa general manager Izaak Breitenbach.
The department of agriculture said it is “embarking on the efficiency improvement in issuing import permits for egg products to ensure sufficient supplies for consumers”. It added that minister Thoko Didiza is looking at the possibility of vaccinations.