Oh cluck! Bird Flu likely to affect Limpopo consumers
While the province's major egg supplier hasn't been affected by the Bird Flu outbreak as yet, retailers say a price increase in poultry products is likely.
POLOKWANE – An outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), an airborne disease affecting birds as well as humans and that is commonly known as bird flu, in the Western Cape, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Gauteng, the Free State, North West and Limpopo may soon see consumers without supplies of eggs and chicken products as the current situation is already described as catastrophic.
According to reports, approximately 8,5 million egg-laying birds have already been affected, equating to nearly a quarter to a third of the sector.
RCL Foods, one of the major suppliers of eggs in the country, last week said that the outbreak has affected 11 of its 19 sites in the inland region, which is one of three regions in which this business operates.
“The outbreak has moved at a rapid pace, and the situation is constantly evolving,” the producer said and confirmed that more than 410 000 chickens had to be culled in an effort to contain the spread of the virus.
Last week, RCL’s peers, Astral Foods and Quantum Foods, said the outbreak was ravaging a sector that was already burdened by South Africa’s electricity crisis and rising costs.
The most recent outbreak of the disease was in North West and the director of veterinary services, Dr Langa Madyibi reportedly said that there is currently no vaccination for the disease, so the only plan is for farmers and communities to exercise high biosecurity measures to prevent such outbreaks.
Madyibi confirmed that the government is working around the clock with departmental officials on the ground to assess farms.
Madyibi, however, said communities needed to play their part and reach out to the department through veterinary officers as the only way for the province and the country to overcome the disease is through collaboration between the communities and government.
Addressing a post-cabinet briefing last Thursday, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the cabinet noted the current outbreaks of highly pathogenic influenza in the poultry industry in the country.
“Control measures to manage the spread of the outbreaks are in place and farmers are encouraged to observe prescribed biosecurity measures,” she said.
Ntshavheni confirmed that the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) and the industry were exploring applications for the registration of possible vaccines, with compliance measures relating to safety, efficacy and quality being paramount for registration of such vaccines.
Read more: Government considers vaccination to contain the spread of avian influenza
Last Wednesday, Namibia suspended poultry imports from South Africa, citing the bird flu outbreak.
However, South Africa only exports between 1% and 2% of its production, according to the country’s poultry producers’ association.
Limpopo’s major supplier of eggs, Lunds Farms has not been affected by the virus as yet.
Erik Pretorius, director of group services at the owner company, Kuipers Group, said very strict protocols are in place to prevent the spread of the virus into the company’s premises.
Local retailers indicated that they have not experienced a shortage of supply yet, but are in agreement that a rise in the price of eggs will affect all other foodstuffs in which eggs and poultry products are used.
Farmers are already predicting a shortage of poultry products over the festive season, resulting in skyrocketing prices which will hit consumers’ pockets hard.
Statistics showed that poultry was the most consumed and cheapest source of protein in South Africa, with a consumption per capita of about 40kg per head compared with other types of meat, and people from lower income groups spend about 35% of income on food.
The virus that primarily infects birds, can also infect humans and is most often contracted by contact with sick birds. It can also be passed from person to person by airborne respiratory droplets.
Symptoms begin within two to eight days and can seem like the common flu.
Cough, fever, sore throat, muscle aches, headache and shortness of breath may occur. The disease can carry a high mortality in humans. Some antiviral drugs, if taken within two days of symptoms, may help.
