South Africa Reports Low-Path Bird Flu in Eastern Cape
SOUTH AFRICA - Subclinical infection with the H7N1 sub-type of the low-pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) virus was reported on three ostrich farms in the Eastern Cape Province in October and November 2013.
27 December 2013
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By: The South African veterinary authority sent an Immediate Notification dated 24 December to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
The report describes sub-clinical infection with the LPAI virus in 64 birds out of a total of 2,906 commercial ostriches on three farms in the Blue Crane Route region of Eastern Cape province between 20 October and 20 November 2013.
The virus was subsequently identified as the H7N1 subtype, which was last reported in the country in April 2013.
The source of infection is described as 'uUnknown or inconclusive'.
On the epidemiology, the report states that the LPAI-positive serology was detected on pre-slaughter/pre-movement routine testing.
