Six Outbreaks of LPAI Reported in South African Ostriches
SOUTH AFRICA - The South African veterinary authorities have reported six new outbreaks of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) at several farms in the Free State and Western Cape provinces.
26 July 2013
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The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) received follow-up report no.1 on Thursday, 25 July. The causal agent has been identified as the LPAI virus, serotype H7N7. The affected population comprises commercial ostriches.
A total of 9374 birds were found susceptible, out of which 3400 cases were reported. No deaths were recorded and no birds were destroyed.
According to the OIE, the outbreaks LPAI_2013H7N7_001 and LPAI_2013H7N7_002 were first notified on 15 April 2013 as part of the on-going H7N1 event since at that time the neuraminidase was suspected as N1. These outbreaks have been confirmed later as H7N7.
Note by the OIE Animal Health Information Department: H5 and H7 avian influenza in its low pathogenic form in poultry is a notifiable disease as per Chapter 10.4. on avian influenza of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code (2012).
The source of the outbreaks remains inconclusive.
