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Thousands of cormorants die
08/01/2004 13:57 - (SA)
Avian cholera has again broken out on Dyer Island and has killed approximately 4 500 Cape cormorants in the last two weeks.
The disease has affected mainly fledglings and fortunately has not spread to other bird species on the island.
At the start of the outbreak, approximately 700 birds died per day. This figure has now come down to approximately 350 per day.
Cape Nature Conservation staff together with volunteers from Overstrand municipality and Coastcare are working hard and doing everything possible to stop further spread of the disease. All dead birds are being collected and brought to a central point on the island where the carcasses are being burnt.
Avian cholera is a contagious disease resulting from infection by the bacterium Pasteurella multocida which is believed to have first occurred in the United States during the middle to late 1880s.
Acute infections are common and can cause birds to die within 6 - 12 hours after exposure, although
24 - 48 hours is more common. Susceptibility to infection and the course of the disease depends on many factors including sex, age, genetic variation, immune status from previous exposure, concurrent infection and nutritional status.
Cape Nature Conservation is confident that the battle against this outbreak will be won and that things on Dyer Island will return to normal shortly.
- DistrictMail
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