Bird flu spreads in South Africa
A complete ban on poultry imports might have to be reinstated if the contagious disease spreads further.
An outbreak of the highly contagious bird flu in South Africa has spread to several provinces over the past two months, causing fear that it may spread to approved farms where Namibia is importing chicken from.
Since the end of June South Africa has detected 24 outbreaks of the H5N8 strain of bird flu, including 10 at commercial chicken farms and three at ostrich farms.
The disease has been reported in Mpumalanga, Gauteng and recently also in KwaZulu-Natal, the North West and Western Cape.
A complete ban on poultry imports from South Africa was relaxed at the end of July. Poultry and poultry products originating from areas approved by the South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) can be imported into Namibia.
The certified flu-free farms are outside a 90-kilometre radius around the Vaal Dam that borders the Gauteng and Free State provinces.
The chief veterinary officer in the agriculture ministry, Dr Milton Masheke, told Namibian Sun that this arrangement would have to be changed to include a 90km radius around any area where an outbreak has occurred.
He added that tests were being done every 30 days to ensure that no new outbreaks had occurred in approved areas.
“Although Namibia is experiencing shortages of poultry products currently, we will be okay if the outbreak does not get out of hand. If the approved compartments are breached we will have to institute a complete ban again and that would have devastating consequences for us as an importing country. It would be very bad.”
Namibia Poultry Industry (NPI) spokesperson Ashante Mannetti said the situation had not affected NPI's business much.
“The only problem is that we must import our next consignment of parent stock from the Netherlands, and not South Africa.
“We do not foresee any problems in this regard, as these are products that are normally not only sourced from SA.”
Local consumption of chicken is about 2 500 tons per month, of which NPI supplies about 1 900 tons.
The bird flu outbreaks have sent shockwaves through the South African poultry industry since 22 June.
The virus can cause massive poultry losses and it is a priority to contain and eradicate it.
ELLANIE SMIT
Since the end of June South Africa has detected 24 outbreaks of the H5N8 strain of bird flu, including 10 at commercial chicken farms and three at ostrich farms.
The disease has been reported in Mpumalanga, Gauteng and recently also in KwaZulu-Natal, the North West and Western Cape.
A complete ban on poultry imports from South Africa was relaxed at the end of July. Poultry and poultry products originating from areas approved by the South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) can be imported into Namibia.
The certified flu-free farms are outside a 90-kilometre radius around the Vaal Dam that borders the Gauteng and Free State provinces.
The chief veterinary officer in the agriculture ministry, Dr Milton Masheke, told Namibian Sun that this arrangement would have to be changed to include a 90km radius around any area where an outbreak has occurred.
He added that tests were being done every 30 days to ensure that no new outbreaks had occurred in approved areas.
“Although Namibia is experiencing shortages of poultry products currently, we will be okay if the outbreak does not get out of hand. If the approved compartments are breached we will have to institute a complete ban again and that would have devastating consequences for us as an importing country. It would be very bad.”
Namibia Poultry Industry (NPI) spokesperson Ashante Mannetti said the situation had not affected NPI's business much.
“The only problem is that we must import our next consignment of parent stock from the Netherlands, and not South Africa.
“We do not foresee any problems in this regard, as these are products that are normally not only sourced from SA.”
Local consumption of chicken is about 2 500 tons per month, of which NPI supplies about 1 900 tons.
The bird flu outbreaks have sent shockwaves through the South African poultry industry since 22 June.
The virus can cause massive poultry losses and it is a priority to contain and eradicate it.
ELLANIE SMIT
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