By Riches Soberekon
More than 45,000 hens have been culled, burned, and buried in southern Mozambique in an effort to prevent the spread of bird flu.
These birds had been imported from neighboring South Africa, which has been dealing with its own outbreak of the disease.
Unfortunately, the outbreak has now reached Mozambique’s Morrumbene district in the southern Inhambane province.
Authorities are working hard to contain the disease, but there are concerns about its potential spread to other parts of the country.
Bird flu is a highly contagious disease that affects both poultry and wild birds. It can rapidly spread through entire flocks, primarily through bird droppings, saliva, and contaminated feed or water.
As a result of the outbreak, Mozambique is experiencing a shortage of eggs and chickens, leading to a significant increase in prices, especially in the capital city of Maputo.
The average price of chicken has nearly doubled, going from 350 Mozambican metical ($5; £4) to 600, while the price of a dozen eggs has risen from 100 to 150 metical.
The 45,000 hens that were incinerated had come into contact with infected chickens from South Africa. These hens had been brought to Mozambique for egg-laying purposes.
South Africa has been facing one of its worst bird flu outbreaks, resulting in the culling of seven million egg-laying hens, which accounts for 20-30% of the country’s entire stock, according to the South African Poultry Association.
The outbreak in South Africa has also caused a shortage of eggs and chicken meat.
To prevent further spread, Mozambique has implemented a ban on the importation of chickens and related products from South Africa, including eggs and chicken feed.
This measure aims to protect the local poultry industry and prevent the introduction of the disease into Mozambique. Efforts are underway to control the outbreak and mitigate its impact on the country’s poultry supply
