Highly contagious strain of bird flu batters Ostrich farms
The Western Cape Department of Agriculture has confirmed the outbreak of avian influenza in the province.
Provincial MEC of economic opportunities Alan Winde says bird flu has been detected at two ostrich farms.
Winde says the tests for the highly contagious strain at the Southern Cape farms came back positive.
The farms have since been quarantined.
"There are around about a 1000 ostriches on each farm and we will continue testing in the area and we will make sure that no ostriches will be moved in and out," Winde adds.
Winde says this has no impact on meat sold for human consumption.
Sixteen outbreaks have occurred in South Africa since June, in Mpumalanga and Gauteng.
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Seven commercial chicken farms, two groups of backyard chickens, three sets of wild birds and one group of domestic geese is among the affected.