Brussels, 19/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has announced that, on Wednesday 18 May, it sent an emergency veterinary team to South Africa to assist local authorities to contain an outbreak of avian influenza. This highly pathogenic form of the influenza has affected ostrich exports from the Western Cape Province since 9 April. There is apparently no risk for human health. The virus is a specific mutation of the avian influenza virus and is said not to have the same risk as the “Asian” version of the virus, H5N1. Nonetheless, the economic impact on the local population could be considerable. The EU has already imposed a ban on exports of ostrich meat, usually destined for the EU market, from South Africa.
The EU emergency veterinary team was set up in 2007. It is composed of European experts specialised in animal diseases and has the task of assisting not only EU member states but also third countries to contain diseases. (J.K./transl.jl)