Two outbreaks of H7 bird flu in poultry recorded in Mpumalanga

Authorities say 9,500 farm poultry have died from the virus.

Agriculture minister Thoko Didiza has allowed thousands of permits for the importation of table eggs, fertilised eggs and poultry meat. Stock photo.
Agriculture minister Thoko Didiza has allowed thousands of permits for the importation of table eggs, fertilised eggs and poultry meat. Stock photo. (123RF/Chayakornlot)

South Africa has reported two outbreaks of highly pathogenic H7 bird flu in poultry, the Paris-based World Organisation for Animal Health says.

In total 9,500 farm poultry died from the virus in Victor Khanye in Mpumalanga, with one location having 2,000 poultry and the other 7,500, WOAH said, citing South African authorities.

The strain detected was H7, which is different from the H5N1 one that has killed several hundred million birds about the world. 

Reuters


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