APA-Johannesburg (South Africa) At least 9,500 poultry have died following outbreaks of the highly pathogenic H7 bird flu at two farms in South Africa’s Mpumalanga province, according the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) on Tuesday.
Citing South African authorities, WOAH said the virus killed 7,500 birds at one farm in the twon of Victor Khanye and another 2,000 at a different property in the same area.
The organisation said it was closely monitoring the situation and that South African authorities have instituted several measures to contain the spread of the virus.
The measures include quarantining the affected farms, culling of infected birds and disinfection of affected areas.
Bird flu, also known as avian influenza, is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects birds.
Bird flu is very contagious among birds and affects domesticated birds such as chickens, ostrich and ducks.
Susceptible birds become infected when they have contact with contaminated excretions or surfaces that are contaminated with excretions.
Strains do not usually infect humans but several cases of human infection with bird flu viruses have occurred since 1997.
The outbreak of the bird flu virus has in the past few years cost South Africa billions of dollars and affecting food security in the country.
The frequent bird flu outbreaks have seen South Africa’s neighbours banning imports of poultry from the country in recent years.
JN/APA