12.04.2011

South African agriculture officials announced that a highly pathogenic H5N2 virus has been detected in five commercial ostrich flocks in two cities in Western Cape province, the country's first such outbreaks since 2006. The virus was detected through routine surveillance, and only one of the five sites reported illnesses and deaths, losing 100 ostriches. About 14,800 birds will be culled to control the outbreak. South Africa reported H5N2 outbreaks in ostriches in 2004 and 2006.