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BIRD FLU: DUCKS CULLED, WORKERS LET GO
Bird flu hits Duck Farm RICHARD ROBERTS @richardjohn_rj
T
he owner of a well-known family farm, The Duck Farm, located in Joostenbergvlakte outside Brackenfell, says he has suffered significant losses following the outbreak of bird flu there about a month ago. Leon Groeneveld, owner, says he also had to let go of more than 98 workers as a result. Bird flu was first contracted on his farm on Monday 21 August. “We immediately sent samples to the Stellenbosch Agricultural Laboratory,” Groeneveld says. On 23 August the results came back and they were positive, he adds. The state veterinarian gave instructions to have all the ducks culled. A total of 4500 ducks had to be culled, Groenewald says. “A further 40 000 ducks had to be slaughtered the week following 23 August onwards.” Groeneveld says they first suspected bird flu when they saw young ducks dying, which led to them contacting the veterinarian. “We have had bird flu here before, in 2015. Back then, though, it was not as serious as it is now. This time, however, in the first few weeks, we lost 20 000. This was previously not the case.” The current bird flu outbreak has dealt a big blow to his business. “We
cannot breed anymore.” Most of the ducks were being exported overseas, he says. Groeneveld adds: “We have 98 workers of whom four are casual workers. Most of our staff complement is permanent.” He says the family still has an abattoir that can continue operating as soon as the current quarantine has been lifted. “We will hopefully be able to re-employ 18 of our staff,” says Groeneveld who has owned the business since 2009. The Duck Farm has been operational since 1964. The Western Cape Department of Health recently issued a statement indicating that avian influenza (bird flu) infections among humans are uncommon and rare. “We would like to inform the public that the risk of transmission of this particular strain of ‘bird flu’, H5N8, to humans is very low,” Mark van der Heever, health spokesperson, said. Avian influenza viruses do not usually spread from person to person; however, to prevent the spread of bird flu to humans, people should not touch dead birds, especially where large numbers of dead birds are found, the department said. TygerBurger contacted the South African Poultry Association’s acting chief executive officer, Dr Charlotte Nkuna, for comment, but did not receive a response by the time of going to print. V What is your opinion on this article? Let us know at briewe@tygerburger.co.za.
Sy het darem ja gesê Toppie Scheepers van Brackenfell het Teresa Chatburn, ook van Brackenfell, Saterdagoggend by die eindstreep van die Goodwood Harriers 10kmpretdraf gevra om te trou. FOTO: CARINA ROUX
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