ADG: VETERINARY SERVICES AND FOOD SAFETY, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, SOUTH AFRICA.

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1 WELCOMING ADDRESS FROM THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, SOUTH AFRICA B.M. Modisane ADG: VETERINARY SERVICES AND FOOD SAFETY, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, SOUTH AFRICA. Greetings Chairperson Honourable Director of the African Union s Inter African Bureau of Animal Resources, Dr Modibo Traore Honourable SADC OIE Regional representative, Dr. Bonaventure Mtei Honourable representative from the SADC secretariat Honourable representatives from different industries including the poultry and ostrich industries FAO representatives and other International Partners in Development Representatives of different organizations Colleagues from the Departments of Health and Agriculture, Distinguished guests. General Background It is an honour for me to welcome you all on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture in South Africa. South Africa is honoured to host this very important workshop, which aims to harmonise approaches to preparedness for Notifiable Avian Influenza outbreaks in the region, and to share information on contingency and surveillance plans from the perspectives of the departments of Agriculture and Health in the region. I apologize for the Minister who could not make it to the opening 1

2 of this workshop because of other commitments, but I am sure that she would like us to have fruitful deliberations that would in the spirit of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), lead to a harmonised approach to Notifiable Avian Influenza control strategies conforming to international standards taking into consideration the avian and human health aspects, the possible impact of this disease on the livelihoods of many of Africa s people and the possible impact on food security and trade on poultry and poultry products. There have been many international crises in terms of outbreaks of Notiable Avian Influenza. The H5N1 strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza ravaged most of Asia for some time. The disease found its way into Eurasia, some EU member states and now has been confirmed in Africa (Nigeria and Egypt). Other African countries like Zimbabwe and South Africa experienced outbreaks of the H5N2 strain in Ostriches, which did not spread to the chicken populations of the two countries. We know now that it would have been very difficult to control the disease if it had spread to chickens and very devastating if it had affected people. The need for a coordinated approach to Notiable Avian Influenza preparedness was identified at a meeting of SADC s epidemiologists before H5N1 reached Africa. I congratulate the organisers for taking up the challenge to organise this workshop, which without doubt, will benefit all in the region and the general public in the globe. Challenges and possible solutions Ladies and gentlemen, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has become one of the most important diseases of poultry in the globe. The disease has affected farmers directly, impacted directly on food security in all countries in which outbreaks 2

3 were experienced and it threatens to affect poultry production, which has been providing good quality protein at affordable prizes to a vast majority of the world s population. The fact that the virus can be transmitted to humans and that it can mutate and adapt to enable it to be easily transmitted from human to human and that if this adaptation occurs, a global human influenza pandemic could occur is of great concern to most governments and to the public at large. Whilst intensified movement of animals, humans and animal products contribute to increased risk of transmission of transboundary animal diseases, the involvement of migratory wild birds in the spread of Avian Influenza makes the introduction of this disease to the poultry populations, and the wild bird population of any country a possibility. On the other hand the introduction of Highly Pathogenic Avian influenza in the wild bird population, a resource that Africa has in abundance, and the resultant death of the wild birds may affect the ecosystem and tourism adversely and therefore impact on some sectors that certainly provide jobs to many of our people. As result of the increased risk of transmission of Avian influenza from live poultry and poultry products or formites countries have to carefully consider their import policies for birds and their products. The truth is, some member countries in Africa may not have sufficient internal capacity to deal with Notifiable Avian Influenza challenge and as a result countries in such circumstances may not detect the disease and react on time to sufficiently prevent the spread to humans and therefore make the dreaded adaptation possible. We know very well that we cannot choose to live with this disease and therefore must do all we can to deal with the outbreak as quickly as it is detected. 3

4 We should emphasise the importance of disease surveillance, the need to submit clinical specimen to reference laboratories, acknowledge the inadequacies of our veterinary services with special reference to laboratories, and recognise that there is insufficient contact between the departments of Health and Agriculture in member states. While there are vaccines available for Avian Influenza, it is well known that the virus is genetically unstable and vaccination may thus not be very effective and may only help to reduce the excretion of the virus. Although special techniques are available and can be developed that can tell that birds are infected or not, vaccine use makes serological monitoring a challenge. However, some countries claim to have succeeded in controlling the disease by vaccination. As a result, some countries may opt to use specific available vaccines depending on the strain of Avian Influenza that is threatening, while others may choose not to use the vaccines. With the above-mentioned facts in mind there is a need that experiences, surveillance protocols and expertise be shared to optimise available facilities and resources like diagnostic and vaccine laboratories. SADC member states constitute a major element of disease control initiatives in the region. It is however, becoming increasingly clear that common strategies for disease control have to be developed. This workshop is a step in that direction. I encourage the workshop to explore the role of all departments, organizations and public-private partnerships in planning and implementing control strategies for this very important disease. Notifiable Avian influenza is without doubt a disease that needs this coordinated approach especially now 4

5 while it has not yet adapted its habits. We also have to protect our affordable source of high quality protein. Conclusion It is clear from the above challenges that we require a highly innovative and coordinated approach to the control of Notifiable Avian Influenza in order to attain our regional and continental goal which will lead to a prosperous continent free of conflict in which all our people can fulfil their potential and that participates effectively in the global economy on an equal footing. Once more, ladies and gentlemen, with these words, I wish you all the best for the workshop. 5