DEVELOPMENT-SOUTH AFRICA: Avian Flu Clips Wings of Poultry Sector

By Moyiga Nduru Reprint | | Print |

Moyiga Nduru

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 13 2004 (IPS) - Mozambique has become the latest country to impose a ban on imports of poultry products from South Africa following an outbreak of avian influenza virus in the Eastern Cape Province.

This follows bans by Hong Kong and Singapore, which stopped all poultry imports from South Africa earlier this month.

“At the moment we must take prevention measures, because this disease is highly contagious…If it gets into our country it may cause enormous damage,” Adolfo Mavale, a government veterinary official in Mozambique, was quoted as saying by the state-run Noticias daily newspaper this week.

In addition, the European Union (EU) has banned imports of ostriches, ostrich eggs and meat from South Africa, although tanned skins, egg shells and feathers can still be exported to the EU.

Switzerland, which is not part of the EU, has imposed an indefinite ban on poultry products from South Africa.

Anton Kruger of the South African Ostrich Business Chamber says the bans are expected to cost the industry about five million dollars over a month-long period. The EU is the largest importer of ostriches from South Africa.

The country supplies about 70 percent of the world’s ostrich meat, producing 1,000 tonnes a year according to the chamber. Growth in the ostrich sector has been linked to the fact that ostrich meat has a low fat content, making it ideal for those on controlled diets.

The avian influenza virus has killed 1,500 ostriches on two farms in the Eastern Cape in the past weeks, prompting government to order the slaughter of more than 30,000 birds in a bid to contain and control the disease.

Areas within a 30-kilometre radius of affected farms have been quarantined, and a 24-hour hotline set up for inquiries from farmers and members of the public who have concerns about the influenza epidemic. Vehicles that are traveling into and out of the affected areas are reported to be having their tyres sprayed in an additional effort to contain the disease.

But health officials also claim that the H5N2 virus diagnosed in South Africa is milder than the H5N1 strain which killed 24 people in Thailand and Vietnam, and led to the culling of 200 million birds in Asia early this year.

Viet Nam reported outbreaks of the highly dangerous H5N1 avian influenza in 57 of the country’s 64 provinces; this prompted the culling of more than 43 million birds. Fresh outbreaks of the disease occurred in July, in provinces in the north, centre and south of the country. Additional outbreaks were reported during the same month in China, Indonesia, and Thailand.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Thursday confirmed three recent deaths in Viet Nam caused by infection from avian influenza virus. These are the first cases of avian influenza in Viet Nam to be officially reported since late February, the WHO noted in a statement.

The organisation also said it was important that samples from the victims be made available for further analysis by laboratories in the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network.

“The confirmation of these latest human cases underscores the risk of virus transmission to humans from infected poultry. This risk will continue as long as outbreaks are occurring in poultry,” observed the WHO.

“Of greatest concern is the risk that continuing transmission of the virus to humans will give avian and influenza viruses an opportunity to exchange genes, potentially giving rise to a new virus with pandemic potential.”

The South African Ostrich Business Chamber and Agriculture Minister Thoko Didiza say the virus taking a toll in South Africa is ostrich-specific, and poses no danger to humans.

“Due to the ban on exports, South African consumers might be able to have ostrich meat more readily available. Ostrich meat processing is strictly monitored by state-appointed veterinarians at abattoirs, and the meat is safe for consumption,” Kruger observed.

South Africa’s Ministry of Health has also declared poultry meat that was slaughtered before Jul. 16, as well as meat that is treated to a temperature of at least 70 degrees celsius during processing, safe for consumption.

The South African Veterinary Association (SAVA) says it suspects the virus may have been spread to ostriches via water in open dams, and other sources. SAVA notes that ostriches should only be given treated water to drink, and that their interaction with wild birds and free-range poultry should be discouraged.