![A map of the confirmed AI cases in the Western Cape A map of the confirmed AI cases in the Western Cape](https://www.westerncape.gov.za/sites/www.westerncape.gov.za/files/ai_update_map_2_october_2017.jpg)
Today, 2 October 2017, Alan Winde, Minister of Economic Opportunities, and the Western Cape Government team driving the avian influenza recovery plan, briefed the media on the regional outbreak of avian influenza in the province.
Highlights include:
Please see the full media statement below:
The Western Cape Government has initiated a province-wide recovery plan to combat the impact of the avian influenza outbreak on agriculture.
To date, 2 million birds have been culled and immediate production losses of more than R800 million are projected.
Today (2 October 2017), Alan Winde, Minister of Economic Opportunities, and the Western Cape Government team driving the response plan, hosted a media briefing on the status of the disease in the province.
In response to this outbreak, which is the first of its kind in South Africa, the Western Cape Government has convened a Joint Operations Centre (JOC).
The JOC is being headed by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, the Provincial Disaster Management Centre, the Department of Social Development and the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning.
Minister Winde said: “The Western Cape is the worst affected province in South Africa. In some regions, poultry production farms are clustered in a specific area. In other provinces, cases have occurred at locations far removed from these hubs.
“In the Western Cape, the outbreak has hit the Paardeberg area, the region with the highest concentration of poultry farms.”
Anton Bredell, Minister of Environmental Affairs, Local Government and Development Planning, said the Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC) is assisting the Department of Agriculture (DOA) with the coordination of steps to mitigate the effects of the avian influenza outbreak.
“The PDMC is also in constant communication with the National Disaster Management centre and DAFF.”
Bredell said the PDMC has established a working committee that includes representatives from all the departments that could play a role in effectively managing the crisis, including the National Departments of Labour, Social Development, SASSA, Environmental Affairs, Economic Development, and others.
“A big part of what we’re busy with currently includes looking after the wellbeing of affected farmworkers. In this regard, the departments of Social Development together with DOA are leading the process. SASSA and Labour are also on board. In addition, the Department of Environmental Affairs’ Waste Management Unit is ensuring the safe disposal of carcasses on affected farms. These are some of the major initiatives at the moment.”
The JOC has initiated the following measures:
The JOC meets weekly to share updates in the following key areas.
Economic impact
Lead: Department of Agriculture/Department of Economic Development and Tourism
Environmental mitigation steps
Lead: Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEADP)
Projected socio economic impact
Lead: Department of Social Development (DSD)
Update on latest cases
After a case is confirmed by positive lab tests, it is reported to the National Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF).
DAFF officially notifies the OIE (also known as the World Organisation for Animal Health) as well as our trading partners. The OIE then notifies its 71 member countries, so they may put preventative measures in place.
In respect of the 36 confirmed cases, the formal notification process has been concluded, and the below cases can therefore be made public.
|
District |
Species Group |
Species |
1 |
Central Karoo |
Backyard/hobby birds |
Chicken |
2 |
West Coast |
Backyard/hobby birds |
Geese, chickens |
3 |
West Coast |
Backyard/hobby birds |
Geese, chickens |
4 |
City of Cape Town |
Backyard/hobby birds |
Swans |
5 |
West Coast |
Backyard/hobby birds |
Chicken, duck, turkey |
6 |
West Coast |
Backyard/hobby birds |
Chicken |
7 |
West Coast |
Backyard/hobby birds |
Geese |
8 |
Eden |
Commercial ostriches |
Ostriches |
9 |
Eden |
Commercial ostriches |
Ostriches |
10 |
Eden |
Commercial ostriches |
Ostriches |
11 |
Eden |
Commercial ostriches |
Ostriches |
12 |
Eden |
Commercial ostriches |
Ostriches |
13 |
Eden |
Commercial ostriches |
Ostriches |
14 |
Eden |
Commercial ostriches |
Ostriches |
15 |
Eden |
Commercial ostriches |
Ostriches |
16 |
Eden |
Commercial ostriches |
Ostriches |
17 |
Eden |
Commercial ostriches |
Ostriches |
18 |
Eden |
Commercial ostriches |
Ostriches |
19 |
Eden |
Commercial ostriches |
Ostriches |
20 |
City of Cape Town |
Commercial poultry |
Layer chickens |
21 |
Cape Winelands |
Commercial poultry |
Layer chickens |
22 |
Cape Winelands |
Commercial poultry |
Layer chickens |
23 |
West Coast |
Commercial poultry |
Layer chickens |
24 |
City of Cape Town |
Commercial poultry |
Ducks |
25 |
City of Cape Town |
Commercial poultry |
Layer chickens |
26 |
City of Cape Town |
Commercial poultry |
Ducks |
27 |
City of Cape Town |
Commercial poultry |
Layer chickens |
28 |
West Coast |
Commercial poultry |
Broiler breeder chickens |
29 |
Cape Winelands |
Wild bird |
Peregrine falcon |
30 |
Overberg |
Wild bird |
Guinea fowl |
31 |
Cape Winelands |
Wild bird |
Laughing dove |
32 |
Eden |
Wild bird |
Rock pigeon, Spur-winged goose |
33 |
Eden |
Wild bird |
Guinea fowl |
34 |
Eden |
Wild bird |
Blue crane |
35 |
Overberg |
Wild bird |
Guinea fowl |
36 |
West Coast |
Wild bird |
House sparrow |
Bronwynne Jooste
Spokesperson: Alan Winde, Minister of Economic Opportunities
Responsible for Tourism, Economic Development and Agriculture
Tel: 021 483 3550
Cell: 060 970 4301
Email: bronwynne.jooste@westerncape.gov.za