A 24-hour hotline for concerned members of the public and farmers became operational on Wednesday, as the culling of thousands of ostriches entered its second day in the Somerset East region of the Eastern Cape.
The culling is part of a plan to contain an outbreak of bird flu in the region, which has led to a ban on certain ostrich produce — such as ostrich meat and eggs, raw skins and non-processed feathers — being exported from South Africa.
”The culling process is continuing today [Wednesday],” said Segoati Mahlangu from the joint operations centre.
He said about 6 000 ostriches are to be culled from two farms, which the provincial departments of health and agriculture have named as Endo and Glentana.
According to Mahlangu, the culling process at the two farms is expected to be completed in two weeks.
”The process is progressing well,” he said.
Mahlangu said the quarantine in place to help control and monitor the movement of animals and people will only be lifted once authorities are satisfied that the disease has been contained.
An estimated 30 000 birds are expected to be culled eventually.
He said at this stage it is unclear what the financial cost to the government will be.
”We are still consolidating the figures. There is no ballpark figure at this stage.”
The funding for the operation is coming from the coffers of the Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs.
Secrecy surrounds culling
Meanwhile, a South African Press Association photographer was earlier on Wednesday turned away at a roadblock a few kilometres from the farm in the Eastern Cape where the culling of the infected birds is taking place.
An official operating the roadblock said he and the police officers there had been instructed not to speak to the media.
A farmer in the area, who asked not to be named, said it will be impossible to gain access to the farms ”as they don’t want pictures of dead birds going all over the world”.
Vehicles coming in and out of the area had to have their tyres sprayed with a special liquid as part of efforts to stop the spread of the disease. Certain police and agriculture department vehicles did not seem to have to undergo this procedure.
Photographers were also instructed not to take photographs of the spraying.
Mahlangu said this is part of the movement restrictions to minimise the risk of the spread of the disease.
He said that even he and Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs Thoko Didiza have not been to the area as it is not necessary to go there.
He said the media are welcome to take pictures up to the roadblock. However, the police persisted in turning photographers away.
Ostrich meat safe
A group of farmers said on Tuesday the ostrich meat is safe for consumption despite the outbreak of the flu on two farms.
Jan Greyling, a spokesperson for the Klein Karoo group — which represents producers of ostrich meat and ostrich products — said the avian flu strain that has been identified by a South African laboratory ”was not known to affect humans”.
On Wednesday, the South African Ostrich Business Chamber (SAOBC) said the bird-flu outbreak has not deterred buyers of ostrich meat.
”On the contrary, big retailers and even restaurateurs say they are not experiencing any decline in the demand for ostrich meat. They are worried of possible increases in meat prices because of shortages,” said SAOBC general manager Anton Kruger.
Kruger emphasised there is ”nothing wrong” with ostrich meat and that the outbreak in the Eastern Cape has not tainted the local ostrich meat supply.
Kruger also confirmed that the European Union had sent a communiqué on Wednesday outlining its ostrich export ban. The EU has banned live ostriches, eggs and meat. The ban excludes leather, feathers and egg shells.
Kruger said the EU will only possibly review the ban once the first 6 000 ostriches have been culled and national sero-surveillance confirms no further infections. — Sapa