July 4, 2006

South African ostrich farm quarantined after bird flu find

A Western Cape farm has been placed under quarantine and all 60 of its ostriches culled in a bid to contain an outbreak of bird flu, the Department of Agriculture said Monday (Jul 3).

Tests at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute confirmed the presence of the H5N2 strain of bird flu, regarded as less dangerous than the H5N1 strain that has affected birds across Asia, Africa, Europe and continues to occasionally infect humans.

Authorities acted quickly to contain the outbreak, which was believed confined to the farm near the south-western coastal town of Mossel Bay, the department said in a statement.

"It is hoped that, with the support of all role-players, the outbreak can be curtailed rapidly and that South Africa's export status for ostriches and poultry will not be affected," the department said. "Negotiations with our trade partners have started."

A similar outbreak in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces in 2004/05 was eradicated after a quarantine was imposed and more than 26,400 birds culled at 37 farms.

The Eastern and Western Cape are home to some of the country's largest ostrich farms--an industry that brings in 1.2 billion rand (US$169 million) in export earnings annually.

South Africa supplies about 70 percent of the world's ostrich meat--about 950,000 tonnes a year. But the main source of revenue is the bird's skin. Ostrich leather is used in the production of clothing items, bags and luxury vehicle interiors.