Fear of avian flu outbreak in South Africa as second case leads to mass bird cull

A second case of Avian Influenza was reported in a layer farm in Val, Standerton in Mpumalanga, the department of agriculture, forestry and fisheries said on Monday.

"The Virus is the same strain as the initial case reported, but the two farms are not directly linked, meaning this is a separate introduction.

The farm has been placed under quarantine over 25,000 of the infected birds will be culled. Eggs are not allowed to move out of the farm," spokesperson Bomikazi Molapo said in a statement.

"The Ban of live hens (including roosters) is still in place, to enable the department to assess the extent of the outbreak.

"We will observe this ban for a period of 14 days and will reassess the situation. It takes approximately four days for the infected bird to show clinical signs of the disease.

"We have put this measure in place to prevent further unintended spread of the Influenza."

Molapo said that the department was pleading with commercial and backyard farmers to report any cases of large numbers of birds dying to the nearest state vets so the department can send veterinary officials for follow up investigations and collection of samples for confirmation.