RAY SMUTS EVEN THOUGH stringent measures are in place to protect South Africa’s ostriches from avian (bird) flu, the grim warning has been sounded that no country in Africa can escape the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus, which has thus far killed millions of domesticated birds and almost 200 humans around the world. Three African countries – Nigeria, Sudan and Egypt – continue to record new cases, with two more human deaths in December bringing the death toll for Egypt to nine. Altogether, eight countries have been affected by H5N1 so far, leading to the slaughter of 15 million domestic birds. In South Africa, domestic poultry (chickens and ducks) have not been affected in any way by bird flu but the detection of the H5N2 strain among certain sections of the ostrich population, notably in the Western Cape, led to two bans on meat and egg exports, lifted in March and November, 2006 respectively.
