Government spends millions to eradicate bird flu in the ostrich industry

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

The government has spent R60m on killing 50,000 ostriches in a bid to stop the spread of avian flu, but the virus is still present.

The Western Cape agriculture department says it is time to admit the policy of blanket killing of entire flocks is not working and to look at other methods.

Agricultural MEC Gerrit van Rensburg says the focus is no longer on getting the export industry reopened, but on the survivial of the entire South African ostrich industry.

He says killing of the ostriches will be futile, as the virus could still be present in the wild bird population.