WHO advises against SA ban

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised against a trade ban on meat products from South Africa as a result of the deadly listeriosis outbreak.The WHO does not currently recommend any trade-related measures other than the recall of products identified as sources of infection, it said in a statement. It says it has reached out to 16 African nations to provide support for preparedness and response to the listeriosis outbreak that started in South Africa last year and is now threatening other countries on the continent.Nearly 200 South Africans have died since last year January as a result of contaminated ready-to-eat meat products that are widely consumed in the country and may also have been exported to two West African countries and 14 members of the South African Development Community (SADC).South African health authorities recently declared the source of the outbreak as a factory in Polokwane. Scientists traced the source of the dangerous food-borne disease to the Enterprise food production plant.Two other facilities, an Enterprise facility in Germiston on the East Rand, and a Rainbow Chicken facility in the Free State, have also since been singled out as a source of the outbreak.This prompted the national and international recall of food products such as viennas, russians and ham. “However, in light of the potentially long incubation period of listeriosis and the challenges relating to large-scale nationwide recall processes, further cases are likely to occur,” the WHO says. Namibia has reported one confirmed case of listeriosis - a man who was admitted to hospital in early March. The patient allegedly ate a hot dog sausage bought from a butchery in Tsumeb. It was confirmed the vienna was supplied by a butchery in Grootfontein, but an investigation is ongoing to determine whether the case is connected to the outbreak in South Africa. Namibia has recalled all products linked to the listeria outbreak in South Africa and also suspended and cancelled all permits issued to manufacturers of these products.The WHO further listed Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, while encouraging these nations to strengthen their national food security and disease surveillance systems.The WHO's health emergencies programme, the Global Outbreak alert and Response Network (GOARN) and the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) are working with 16 priority countries to improve their ability to prepare for, detect and respond to potential outbreaks. Immediate steps will include increasing awareness on listeriosis, enhancing active surveillance and laboratory diagnosis, ensuring readiness of rapid response teams and strengthening coordination and contingency planning.“This outbreak is a wakeup call for countries in the region to strengthen their national food safety and disease surveillance systems,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa. ELLANIE SMIT

WHO advises against SA ban

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-15

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WHO advises against SA ban

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-15

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