August 9, 2004

Bird Flu Confirmed In South Africa

Authorities have confirmed that the virus that killed ostriches in two Eastern Cape farms recently is bird flu.

The virus was discovered in two ostrich farms in Cradock, Somerset East and it was feared that it might be the high pathogenic AI, which caused major mortalities in the east early in 2004

National Department of Agriculture spokesperson Segoati Mahlangu said the virus was however not the same as the one that devastated Asia in the past.

He said the origin of the infections was not known yet but investigations were underway to determine the flu's origin.

"We have been doing backward and forward tracing of animals to determine where the virus might have originated," he said.

Mr Mahlangu said measures had been put in place to curb the spread of the virus to adjacent farms and other areas.

"We have quarantined the area, which contains 15 farms including the two affected farms. Tests were also conducted in the adjacent farms in the area and it was found that the virus had not spread to those farms," he explained.

He added that roadblocks had been set up to monitor the movement of people and animals in and out of the area.

The Western Cape this week put a moratorium on importing ostriches from the Eastern Cape.