Avian influenza: Public urged not to touch sea birds after confirmed cases in Cape Town
SANParks said there are four confirmed cases of avian influenza in Boulders Penguin Colony. Seven more cases are suspected.
Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) confirmed four new avian influenza cases have been detected in the Boulders Penguin Colony. The virus has a low risk for humans but people can spread it to other birds.
AVIAN INFLUENZA RISK
TMNP said four confirmed cases of avian influenza have been detected and a further seven cases are suspected. “This strain of avian influenza virus has been detected in a range of wild seabirds, e.g. African penguins, Cape Cormorants, Swift, Sandwich and Common Terns, and Cape Gannets since May 2021.”
There are an estimated 3000 penguins in Simon’s Town. The authorities said closing the Boulders Colony to visitors is not justified at this stage due to the low number of infections.
However, South African National Parks (SANParks), Western Cape Veterinary Services, City of Cape Town, SANCCOB and other seabird rehabilitation centres, are monitoring the situation and will take further action if needed.
Avian influenza is spread between birds through faeces, other body excretions and through humans who handle sick birds. Infected birds are weak and may look tame, be unable to fly and show signs of tremors, twitches, seizures and loss of balance.
There is little risk of human infection but safety precautions must be taken – gloves and masks should be worn if birds are handled.
Western Cape MEC for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell, urged the public not to touch or handle seabirds.
“Our Disaster Management Centre has been alerted of these new cases. Avian influenza holds almost no risk to humans, but if transmitted from wild seabirds to poultry flocks, poses a great risk to the agricultural sector,” he said.
Bredell said his department donated R300 000 to SANNCCOB earlier this year to help support its work with testing seabirds for avian influenza.
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