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Western Cape authorities along with multiple partners continue to respond to an ongoing outbreak of Avian Influenza amongst wild seabirds. 

Over the weekend roughly 700 dead birds per day were collected from various regions across the province, with the main hotspots continuing to be the Bergrivier Municipality and Dyer Island in the Overberg.

The Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell, says authorities have been working all weekend to clean up suspected outbreaks and remove dead and sick birds in order to prevent the spread of the virus.

“It is critical to prevent the spread of the disease. This means people must not 

attempt to assist or transport any sick birds. This remains a serious situation with the impact hard felt amongst endangered wild birds particularly cormorants. This is an incurable disease affecting birds, that is not preventative, cannot be treated and is highly contagious to birds,” says Bredell.

SANCCOB, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, CapeNature, SANParks, West Coast District Municipality,

Bergrivier Local Municipality, the Robben Island Museum, Western Cape Veterinary Services, BirdLife South Africa, Dyer Island

Conservation Trust, The Owl Orphanage St. Helena Bay, Dwarskersbos Snake Rescue, the SPCA and local veterinarians are collaborating to help

monitor and manage the situation.

“Environmentalists have been monitoring the outbreak since May when the virus was first detected in wild seabirds. We believe the mass fatalities seen since last week is due to the beginning of breeding season.”

The Disaster Management Centre urges the public to be vigilant and report unusual mortalities in any birds to their local municipality, conservation authority or state veterinarian.  Contact details for state veterinarians are available at https://www.elsenburg.com/services-and-programmes/veterinary-services-0#s=Animal-Health-and-Disease-Control 

Issued by Spokesperson for the Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning James-Brent Styan