Ban on live hen sales after bird flu confirmed at Mpumalanga farm

Following the blow on Thursday that samples from an Mpumalanga farm had tested positively for avian influenza, H5N8, leading to the decision to cull at least 24 000 birds, it appears that now the sale of live hens in the country has been banned.

The department of agriculture, forestry and fisheries announced on Saturday that it had placed a general ban on the sale of live hens across the country. This is until further notice.

On Thursday, the department said the samples – which tested positively for the highly pathogenic Avian Influenza, H5N8 – were collected on the farm near Villiers after The South African Veterinary Authority was notified of high mortalities on a breeder flock.

The department said in a statement issued on Thursday that it had agreed with the company to euthanise the birds in affected houses. This was done in collaboration with the NSPCA, the department said.

It was found that only one of the 12 self-contained sites, with about 24 000 birds, had been affected. In total, the farm has about 285 000 birds.

“As part of the emergency response, the farm has been placed under quarantine and veterinary services will continue to monitor the farm,” said the department on Thursday.

The department further explained that it was prohibited by law to vaccinate against the Avian Influenza.

“There are several reasons for not allowing vaccination of chickens, and the most pertinent are that vaccinated birds mask the disease and therefore create an endemic situation; surveillance for absence of disease is also impossible in vaccinated birds as they all test positive,” said the department.

Notices outlining the biosecurity measures needed and how surveillance will be conducted have been sent to poultry owners by the department and can also be found on the department’s website.