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The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ Veterinary Services was on Friday 02 June 2017 notified of an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI, ‘bird flu’) in one of the commercial chicken flocks in Zimbabwe.  The virus has been typed as H5N8. South Africa keeps a close eye on the notifications reported to the OIE by trade partners.

South Africa immediately suspended all trade in live poultry, meat and table eggs and communicated this to the Zimbabwean Chief Veterinary Officer.  South Africa imports very little product from Zimbabwe, all importers were immediately notified that their import permits are any permits which have not been used should please be returned to the Department with immediate effect.

We have heightened inspections of all consignments, including all private and public vehicles at all our ports of entry, especially in and out of Zimbabwe.  The Limpopo Veterinary Authorities are on high alert and have increased their surveillance especially in backyard chickens. Communities must be extremely vigilant especially in areas of the Limpopo Province that neighbour Zimbabwe and report any unusual mortality of chickens or other birds to the State Veterinary Services immediately for samples to be collected.

Keepers of chickens, geese and ducks, including backyard farmers, are encouraged to observe minimum biosecurity measures to prevent this disease in their birds, such as limiting exposure to wild birds by providing feed and water indoors or at least well underneath a low solid roof.  Care should be taken to prevent chickens drinking from common water sources where wild birds congregate.

Commercial farmers are also encouraged to increase their biosecurity measures on farms, including limiting access to people who might have had contact with birds and chickens outside the farm.

Clinical and serological surveillance should also be increased and any abnormal morbidity and mortalities must be immediately reported to State Veterinary Services.

South Africa has prohibited vaccination of chicken against Notifiable Avian Influenza and no vaccine against this disease is registered in the country.   No farmer should allow their chickens to be vaccinated.

Issued by Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries