“With the virus having been detected and confirmed inside our borders, the threat of the disease spreading to other provinces is potentially imminent,” said the member of the provincial parliament. Beverley Schafer.

Over the weekend, the agriculture department announced that a ban on the sale of live hens had been implemented after a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N8 was confirmed in a broiler breeder site in Mpumalanga.

The farm, which has not been named yet, has been quarantined and the affected animals have already been culled there.

Chickens in supermarkets would have been vetted and are safe.

On Sunday, Schafer said a proactive approach was needed in other provinces.

“Our first defence against the spread of this virus is to inform our poultry industry to be on high alert, and to provide any support necessary,” said Schafer.

News24