Cape Town – The Democratic Alliance (DA) has urged the government to address the Avian flu outbreak in the country promptly.
The party’s shadow agriculture minister, Noko Masipa, emphasised the importance of providing assistance to poultry farmers and businesses affected by the outbreak.
The DA has written to Agriculture Minister Thoko Didiza, requesting support for the sector.
Masipa specifically called for help in procuring and registering vaccines effective against Avian influenza, which is currently causing significant damage in South Africa.
“Minister Thoko Didiza must remove some of the restrictive red tape on vaccine registration to ensure speedy procurement of effective vaccines. Concurrent to the procurement of vaccines, an extensive monitoring system must be put in place to quarantine severely affected areas to prevent the further spreading of the disease.
“It is crucial that this avian flu outbreak is contained as quickly as possible to save the local poultry industry, preserve jobs and ensure the continued supply of affordable chicken to consumers. The DA will fight to ensure poultry farmers are assisted as soon as possible to avert possible collapse of the industry,” Masipa said.
Reports indicate that around two million birds have been culled due to the outbreak.
Namibia has also banned poultry imports, including live poultry, birds, and other poultry products, in response to the outbreak.
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Source: AFP
Picture: Pixabay
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