Bird flu: Govt working to ensure no threat to food security - Ntshavheni
Cabinet has acknowledged that the current bird flu outbreak in the country could threaten food security if not managed effectively.
Earlier this month, the South African Poultry Association said the country was battling two different strains of the virus, H5N1 and a new one identified as H7N6.
It warned the crisis could lead to either a shortage of chicken and eggs or price hikes.
READ: Agriculture Dept: Bird flu outbreak being monitored
The outbreak has been described as the worst ever in South Africa, with the number of current cases said to be higher than in any other year since the outbreaks in 2017.
Speaking at a post-cabinet briefing on Thursday, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the government, the poultry association and other entities were working tirelessly to limit the impact of the avian flu.
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"The Minister of Agriculture [Thoko Didiza] and the Minster of Trade Industry [Ebrahim Patel] and competition will have to work on the mechanism which they are currently considering of what should be a preventative mechanism so that there is no shortage of poultry products in this country in case such a need arises."
