Bird flu hits Zimbabwe ostrich farms

[Guest guest]

Bird flu hits Zim ostrich farms

Percy Zvomuya 09 December 2005 10:00

Zimbabwe's health authorities, who have been on high alert for bird

flu since October, had their worst fears confirmed when two farms

reported outbreaks in the south of the country this week.

Initial tests show that the strain of the virus on the farms in

Nyamandlovu and Bubi is of the H5N2 type. This strain is the less

virulent cousin of the H5N1 virus that has plagued Europe and killed

60 people in South-East Asia since 2003.

Poultry and ostrich exports have been suspended with immediate effect

and head of veterinary services in Zimbabwe Stuart Hargreaves

confirmed to state daily The Herald that all ostrich farms were under

quarantine.

Suspension of exports and culling are exercises that the ever-

shrinking Zimbabwean economy can ill afford. Agricultural activity is

at an all-time low following the controversial land seizures that

began in 2000.

An ostrich farmer, Logan, told a news agency that the bird

flu outbreak could sound the death knell for the industry that was

the chief cornerstone of the Zimbab-wean economy.

" Industry-wise this is desperate, " she said. She added that the

industry has been experiencing vaccine shortages because they could

not access forex. " If the outbreak is not contained, our ostrich

population could be decimated, " she said

Only about 10 ostrich farmers remain out of about 64 who were there

before the land expropriations began in 2000.

http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?

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