Source: The Herald
Date: 08 December
Author: Tabitha Mutenga
Zimbabwe has temporarily suspended ostrich and poultry exports following the detection of avian influenza type H5 virus on ostriches at two farms in Nyamandlovu and Bubi districts. The principal director for Veterinary Services Dr Stuart Hargreaves said samples sent to South Africa have confirmed that the infection on the two ostrich properties in Matabeleland North were of the H5N2 type of avian influenza and was, therefore, unrelated to the disease outbreaks in Europe and South East Asia. "Until the full extent of the disease can be established by completion of a national survey, all ostrich farms in the country have been placed under quarantine. "To date, only the two ostrich farms in Matabeleland remain positive and no chickens have been tested positive," Dr Hargreaves said. The H5N2 virus type recorded in Zimbabwe was similar to what has recently occurred in the South African flock in the Eastern and Western Cape Province. Although no clinical symptoms have been observed in poultry, the H5 and H7 viral types were known to have the potential to cause serious losses to poultry.
To reduce the impact of the disease, Zimbabwe established a National Task Force for Avian Influenza, which is in the process of developing a national "preparedness and awareness plan". Worldwide assistance was being co-ordinated through the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health. It was reported that the ostriches on the two properties appeared to be clinically normal and no untoward poultry deaths had occurred in the surrounding area that could be attributed to avian influenza. According to Dr Hargreaves, improving general public awareness would reduce the threat of the disease to the country's poultry industry. "If large numbers of poultry or wild birds are observed to be suddenly dying, this should be reported to the nearest veterinary office as soon as possible. "Early detection enables quicker control of the disease." The disease has many different forms depending on the avian influenza type, ranging from mild disease to a highly pathogenic and contagious one that has the capacity to kill large numbers of poultry in a short period of time. Occasionally, the disease may infect humans. It is believed that there is no threat to human health from the infection in ostriches.
Of all bird flu virus strain, only the H5N1, H9N2 and the H7N7 strains have been known to pass from chickens to humans. The recent outbreaks in South East Asia and Europe have all been caused by H5N1 virus type.