(1)What steps has her department taken to contain the spread of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N8 strain panzootic disease which is currently destroying the poultry industry in the Republic, leading to an increase in the price and a looming shortage of eggs and bringing poultry farmers to their knees;
(2) whether there has been any indication of possible trade bans on the export of poultry products due to the panzootic disease; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what number of (a) industries and (b) countries will and/or have been affected;
(3) whether, in light of the fact that vaccination of poultry is currently not allowed in the Republic, she will remove the prohibition on the poultry vaccines to allow poultry farmers to buy the highly effective vaccine to save millions of Rand and poultry farms; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(4) whether she intends to (a) declare the panzootic a disaster and (b) assist all farmers to get back on their feet through a form of compensation; if not, what is the position in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case? NW4282E