Dodelike Voëlgriep Teiken Wilde Seevoëls

Dodelike Voëlgriep Teiken Wilde Seevoëls

Suidernuus / Southern Post

Dodelike Voëlgriep Teiken Wilde Seevoëls

Asof COVID-19 nie erg genoeg was vir ons mense nie, tref H5N1 nou ook nog ons seevoël bevolking

Kort op die hakke van “Afrika Pikkewyn bewusmakingsdag” wat gewoonlik jaarliks op 9 Oktober tydens talle spesiale geleenthede op 'n vrolike noot gevier word, volg die slegte nuus dat ten minste 1 500 wilde seevoëls, hoofsaaklik Kaapse kormorante, alreeds deurgeloop het onder 'n virale voëlgriep epidemie (H5N1) wat met mening toegeslaan het.

Alhoewel die siekte nie onbekend is aan voëlkenners nie, wek die huidige omvang daarvan wel kommer. Die feit dat ons tans in die broeiseisoen is en dat groot getalle kormorante dan gewoonlik saamdrom - veral in broeikolonies - speel vermoedelik 'n rol.

Drie verskillende gebiede waarvan een aan die Weskus en ten minste twee in die Overberg, is uitgesonder as dié areas waar hierdie seevoëls tans deurloop. Inwoners van Struisbaai en omstreke is sedertdien ook versoek om op die uitkyk te wees vir siek of dooie voëls 

 
Virus bedreig mense nie, maar moenie raak aan die siek of dooie voëls nie

Organisasies soos SANCCOB en Bird Life SAwat gewoonlik betrokke is by reddingsoperasies wanneer seevoëls beseer of onder oliestortings deurgeloop het, is tans nou betrokke by die monitering van kusgebiede waar karkasse van dooie voëls en siek voëls opgetel en verwyder word.

Inwoners van die Kaap Agulhas subdistrik wat rondbeweeg in die omgewing tussen die De Mond Natuurreservaat en Agulhas, is versoek om op die uitkyk te wees vir siek of dooie voëls. Na wat verneem is, loop die kormorant bevolking in die omgewing van Dyer eiland ook tans deur. 'n Ernstige vermaning om nie aan die karkasse te raak of die siek voëls te probeer help nie, is egter ook uitgereik

 
Minister vra samewerking van lede van die publiek

Minister Anton Bredell, Wes-Kaapse Minister van onder meer Omgewingsake, het Dinsdag, 19 Oktober in 'n persverklaring lede van die publiek versoek om saam te werk en om siek of dooie voëls waarop hulle sou afkom dadelik te rapporteer. “Die volgende 14 dae is 'n kritieke tydperk” ten einde die uitbraak onder beheer te probeer bring,het hy gesê. Die simptome wissel van swakheid tot spierspasmas en rukkings - op Engels “seizures” - wat herinner aan epileptiese aanvalle by mense. Sou lede van die publiek enige iets wou rapporteer - erniemellet@gmail.com. Indien geen verteenwoordiger van 'n bewaringsorganisasie byderhand is nie, kan Cape Nature wat De Mond en Dyer Island bewaringsareas beheer asook SANParke vir verwysings gekontak word.

Image 1
Cape cormorants have been hard hit by the fast-spreading H5N1 avian flu strain. SANCCOB reported that they have received numerous calls of sick or dead Cape cormorants along the coast. 1 500 dead birds have already been collected by authorities. Members of the public are cautioned to report but not to attempt to assist or transport any sick birds, even to take them to rehabilitation centres and veterinarians. Signs of the disease vary from tame behaviour or weakness to muscle twitches and seizures. Be vigilant and report unusual mortalities in any birds to your local conservation authority or state veterinarian. Read more here with contact details supplied for state vet: erniemellet@gmail.com
 
Ora Laubscher
Dodelike Voëlgriep Teiken Wilde Seevoëls

Suidernuus / Southern Post

Suidernuus / Southern Post is a well-established Bredasdorp-based publishing and printing company that reaches thousands of readers, across 14 Overberg towns, each week. Other than publishing accurate local news and information, the publishing and printing company provides businesses with the opport...

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