Poultry vets head to Cape Town

Cape Town - Africa’s importance in global poultry production as well as the latest developments in avian health management and disease diagnosis are on the programme when the 19th Congress of the World Veterinary Poultry Association takes place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from September 7 to 11.

Topics include vaccines for avian influenza, the role of mycotoxins in poultry disease, production of safe poultry meat and eggs, bird welfare and parasite control as well as diseases of ostriches, ducks and turkeys. As well as some 20 keynote presentations, research abstracts and full continuing professional development papers will highlight all spheres of avian diseases.  

Key players from the global poultry health scientific community, including poultry veterinarians, poultry health scientists and other individuals from specialised branches connected with poultry health from across the globe, will engage with each other. This is the first time this event will be hosted in sub-Saharan Africa,

It is anticipated over 1 000 delegates will attend this year's event.

Nigel Horrox, vice president of the World Veterinary Poultry Association (WVPA) noted that today's poultry veterinarians are much more than just "chicken doctors".

"They are being increasingly seen and used as sources of trusted independent professional and technical advice in areas such as health, biosecurity, vaccination, nutrition, incubation, bird management and welfare, zoonotic pathogen control and end product quality," he said.

Several young research workers on avian diseases will be subsidised to attend the congress courtesy of The Houghton Trust (UK) and the WVPA.