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Bird flu in South Africa: expert explains what’s behind the chicken crisis and what must be done about it

Bird flu in South Africa: expert explains what’s behind the chicken crisis and what must be done about it

AN outbreak of avian flu – a highly contagious viral infection that affects wild birds as well as poultry – has hit poultry farms in South Africa. Two different strains are causing outbreaks in the country – A(H5N1) and influenza A(H7N6). A specialist in poultry health, Shahn Bisschop, answers some questions put to him by The Conversation Africa. SHAHN BISSCHOP, Senior lecturer, specialist poultry veterinarian, University of Pretoria What strain has broken out in South Africa? The outbreak caused by a highly pathogenic (HPAI) strain of H7N6 avian influenza is causing the most concern at present. The strain was first…
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South Africa’s RCL Foods culls 410,000 chickens amid bird flu outbreak

South Africa’s RCL Foods culls 410,000 chickens amid bird flu outbreak

SOUTH Africa's RCL Foods said that its poultry unit Rainbow has culled 410,000 chickens due to the country's worst outbreak of avian flu, heightening fears of chicken meat and egg shortages. The outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), a bird flu which spreads rapidly in an infected flock causing a high death rate, has already impacted table egg supplies in the country and producers have warned of chicken meat shortages in the coming weeks. Rainbow is one of South Africa's largest chicken producers, supplying retailers and fast food businesses. "The outbreak has moved at a rapid pace, and the situation is constantly…
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Namibia bans poultry imports from South Africa due to bird flu

Namibia bans poultry imports from South Africa due to bird flu

NAMIBIA has suspended imports of live poultry, birds and poultry products from South Africa following the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the neighbouring country. The suspension is in effect until further notice, the agriculture ministry said in a statement released on Wednesday. South Africa is facing a major bird flu outbreak that poultry producer Quantum Foods said last week had killed about 2 million chickens. Another South African poultry producer, Astral Foods, said the total cost associated with the outbreak amounted to about 220 million rand ($11.5 million). Namibia consumes an estimated 2,500 tons of chicken every month, relying…
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World’s first case of human infection with bird flu

World’s first case of human infection with bird flu

POLINA DEVITT and GABRIELLE TETRAULT-FABER RUSSIA has registered the first case of a strain of bird flu virus named A(H5N8) being passed to humans from birds and has reported the matter to the World Health Organization (WHO), Anna Popova, head of consumer health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, said on Saturday. Outbreaks of the H5N8 strain have been reported in Russia, Europe, China, the Middle East and North Africa in recent months but so far only in poultry. Other strains - H5N1, H7N9 and H9N2 - have been known to spread to humans. Russia reported the case of human infection to the WHO…
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