Analysis - An outbreak of avian flu - a highly contagious viral infection that affects wild birds as well as poultry - has hit poultry farms in South Africa. Two different strains are causing outbreaks in the country - A(H5N1) and influenza A(H7N6).
. Two different strains are causing outbreaks in the country - A and influenza A. A specialist in poultry health, Shahn Bisschop, answers some questions put to him by The Conversation Africa.The outbreak caused by a highly pathogenic strain of H7N6 avian influenza is causing the most concern at present. The strain wasThis virus is a novel mutation of a strain which originated from wild birds at or near the location of the original outbreak.
Because wild birds are associated with the spread of avian flu, measures are taken to ensure they are completely excluded from all chicken sheds.principally by wild bird migrations and infect a range of avian and mammalian species. The first recorded cases caused by viruses belonging to this clade were reported in South Africa in 2017. A second outbreak occurred in 2020.
Secondly, because the state doesn't compensate farmers for their losses, they have difficulty getting farmers to comply with orders to cull. This has meant that outbreaks have spread out of control. Infected birds have been moved off infected farms for sale - taking the disease with them. One possible solution is the introduction of appropriate vaccines. This would reduce the losses associated with outbreaks and would slow the spread of the disease between farms. Like all vaccines, they can't prevent birds from becoming infected but they can manage the level of infection and spread. But they can't eradicate the disease.There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.
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