Against a backdrop of economic recession and an agricultural industry which is trying to recoverAgainst a backdrop of economic recession and an agricultural industry which is trying to recover from drought, the latest outbreak of the highly contagious bird flu (H5N8) may cripple the poultry market, unless producers immediately intervene.

So says Liana Steenkamp from the agricultural group, Laeveld Agrochem, which has access to the extremely effective product, Virukill – available in 250ml, 1 litre, 5 litres, 10 litres and 20 litres – and which the group would like to distribute through all its agents to nip the bird flu in the bud.

Steenkamp warns that, although up until yesterday there were only two outbreaks reported countrywide (Standerton and Villiers), the risk of further spreading is dangerously high, especially considering the presence of wild birds in the areas, as well as the sale of live poultry. The government has, indeed, placed a ban on the sale of live poultry, but there is still the risk, especially in the informal market, that sales will continue, which further heightens the risk to the industry.

Laeveld Agrochem lives by its motto, “together, cultivating your success” and therefore Laeveld Agrochem wants to actively support the agricultural industry. We request that farmers contact us directly for orders or for help, she said.

Steenkamp mentioned that a recent bird flu outbreak in America caused $1 billion (about R13 billion) in economic damage in less than two years in the state of Iowa alone. Furthermore, the price of eggs and other related food products rocketed.

Although the H5N8 strain does not pose a direct threat to humans, it has already led to the death of millions of birds worldwide - whether directly or through preventative means. The highly contagious bird flu has, for the first time, broken out amongst commercially-farmed chickens in South Africa, after the country’s biggest poultry producer, Astral, revealed that the H5N8 strain was discovered on one of its farms in Villiers.

The South African Poultry Association (SAPA) says that the H5N8 strain has, since November last year, been reported in various European countries, but this year also in African countries such as Egypt, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and, last month, in Zimbabwe. Wild water birds play the biggest role in the rapid spread of the virus.

Dr Charlotte Nkuna, a senior executive of the South African Poultry Association (SAPA), said yesterday afternoon that everyone in the agricultural industry should behave preventatively, “because wild birds can land anywhere.” The outbreaks in Villiers and Standerton are under control, but if the source is from wild birds, outbreaks can appear elsewhere, she said.

An appeal was made to members of the public to report any incidents of large numbers of dead wild birds or backyard chickens.

According to Bomikazi Molapo, a spokesman for the Department of Agriculture, this virus can spread very quickly and can infect many different bird species. “The virus appears naturally in many birds, and can spread through contact with infected birds and through the consumption of infected food or water.“