Call for intervention over bird flu outbreak

EXPERTS are warning that South Africa is on the brink of an avian influenza disaster.

- GENEVIEVE SERRA

This is according to the National Council of SPCA’s (NSPCA), who said if the government failed to act, thousands of birds could be affected.

Without urgent intervention, another outbreak will tear through the poultry industry and even threaten wild bird populations, the NSPCA said.

“The fastest and most effective way to stop the spread of the disease is culling infected birds. However, vaccination could also play a crucial role in reducing outbreaks.”

The NSPCA said on November 25 last year, it urgently called on Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen to drive vaccination and its access, with sufficient biosecurity measures.