August 11, 2004

 

 

South African Government Still Searching For Bird Flu Origins

 

The authorities are still investigating the origin of the Avian Influenza (AI) that has set South Africa on alert after the outbreak was discovered in the Eastern Cape last month.

 

The outbreak subsequently caused the National Department of Agriculture to halt the export of ostriches until the virus had been wiped out.

 

Spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture Segoati Mahlangu told BuaNews that it was not yet known where the virus could have come from.

 

"We are awaiting the outcomes of the investigations that have been launched to determine the origin of the avian flu. Only then are we able to say where it came from, we cannot speculate," he said

 

The virus recently struck two farms in the Somerset East area in the Blue Crane Municipality of the Eastern Cape, resulting in the decision to cull thousands of infected birds there.

 

Mr Mahlangu said the avian flu that had been causing the havoc in the Somerset East area was the H5N2 virus, which was not considered fatal to humans.

 

The more dangerous H5N1 virus has claimed the lives of a number of people in Asia.

 

"A quarantine area has been created to cover a 30km radius around the affected farms. There are 15 farms within the control area," said Mr Mahlangu.

 

He said the export of ostriches from South Africa had been temporarily halted until the department managed to curb the virus.

 

"We, as the department, voluntarily stopped the export of ostriches not only to avoid the flu spreading to other areas in South Africa, but also to safeguard our international reputation," Mr Mahlangu explained.