The outbreak of Avian Influenza in the area was widely reported on the past week.
According to Mr Gary Arnold, managing director: Agriculture at Astral, strict biosecurity protocols are in place and all measures are taken to prevent further farms from being infected.
The main spread is from wild birds.
Abnormal deaths in the wild bird population around the Villiers area came to the poultry producer’s attention.
The Astral farm, that is affected, is just outside Villiers about 70km from Standerton, and the farm is under quarantine.
Mr Arnold confirmed that another affected farm, 35km from Standerton near Greylingstad, is a commercial table egg operation and this independent farm is under quarantine.
Avian flu: What you need to know
- A highly pathogenic avian influenza, type H5N8 has been found on a farm on the Vaal river near Villiers in the Free State.
- The farm has been quarantined and about 28 000 birds are being culled.
- The Mpumalanga Veterinary Authority is assisting with the implementation of the quarantine as well as the culling and disinfecting.
- The outbreak is the first in South African poultry.
- It is possible that the disease has affected ducks and other wild water birds which makes containment difficult.
- The wild birds may have infected the poultry as the farm is situated on the banks of the Vaal river.
- The strain of influenza does not pose a danger to humans, but appropriate precaution should be taken.
- The South African Poultry Association (SAPA) has given its assurance that the outbreak will have a very limited impact on chicken supply.
- The strain of the virus is from Europe where it has been infecting poultry for more than a year.
- There is no known cure for the virus.
- The virus, that causes respiratory disease, has resulted in hundreds of thousands of commercial birds being culled in Zimbabwe in May which caused major problems for the poultry industry.
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