MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The recent outbreak of the H5N8 strain of avian influenza in seabirds is of seious concern to the nature-loving community and residents of the greater Mossel Bay area.
Many swift terns showing signs of this illness have already been recovered from beaches and taken to local vet Dr Frans de Graaff. The past weekend alone, more than 50 birds were recovered from local beaches and estuaries.
Samples were taken and sent away to determine the cause of death.
Symptoms
Affected birds are weak and they may show neurological signs of disease such as tremors, seizures, loss of balance, swimming in circles or head twitches.
Respiratory signs such as foam around the mouth, fluid running from the nostrils or mouth, difficulty breathing or sticky mucous in the mouth may be present. Many affected birds have bright green diarrhoea. Cloudy eyes are a symptom often seen in other species with bird flu.
Any birds showing these symptoms should be isolated from other birds as soon as possible.
Please do not attempt to recover a bird with any of the above symptoms if you have poultry or birds in cages at home.
What to do when birds are found?
- Alive birds
Appropriate protective clothing such as an apron and disposable gloves should be worn to prevent contamination.
The bird collected should be placed in a box or crate lined with newspaper (no towels please). The bird must be isolated in a protected area and you should refrain from opening the box often as this causes stress. Keep noise to the minimum.
- Dead birds
Always ensure your own safety by wearing gloves. Dead birds collected must be folded into newspaper and put into three plastic bags inside one another and the outside one should be sprayed with a disinfectant and taken to the Hartenbos Animal Hospital, where it will be disposed of.
For the convenience of the public, bins have been placed at the Hartenbos Animal Hospital for the disposal of birds, alive or dead, after hours.
Contact Carol Walton from Saprec (Seabird and Penguin Rehabilitation Centre) at 082 364 3382 or S.M.A.R.T. (Stranded Marine Animal Rescue Team) at 072 227 4715 immediately for assistance.
ARTICLE: TERSIA MARAIS, MOSSEL BAY ADVERTISER CORRESPONDENT
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