South Africa on high alert as bird flu threatens poultry industry

SOUTH AFRICA – South Africa is bracing for another potential avian flu crisis as the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) looms over the poultry sector. 

The South African Poultry Association (SAPA) has issued an urgent alert, stressing the need for swift immunisation efforts to prevent a major outbreak. 

Recent global cases highlight the virus’s devastating impact, where 23.2 million birds were culled in the United States in December 2024 alone, while the UK lost 1.8 million birds in just three months. 

These outbreaks have led to egg shortages and soaring poultry prices, underscoring the disease’s economic toll.

South Africa is particularly vulnerable due to migratory birds from Europe, which introduce the virus every winter. Once the virus infiltrates poultry flocks, it spreads rapidly, often leaving farmers with no choice but to cull infected birds. 

The recurrence of avian flu worldwide suggests the disease remains largely unchecked, making decisive action crucial for South Africa’s food security and poultry sector stability.

The country has already experienced severe consequences from previous outbreaks. In 2023, the poultry industry suffered massive losses, with over 9.6 million birds culled, causing egg shortages, empty store shelves, and price hikes. 

The crisis dealt a severe financial blow to farmers, costing the industry more than R9.5 billion (US$520,000 million). Although the sector has since rebounded, another wave of avian flu could undo these hard-won gains.

SAPA has proposed two key strategies to combat the threat: culling infected flocks and implementing a vaccination program. While culling helps contain outbreaks in the short term, it depletes poultry stocks and disrupts supply chains. 

On the other hand, vaccination offers a proactive solution, bolstering immunity in flocks and reducing outbreak risks. Countries like China and France have successfully integrated vaccination into their disease prevention strategies, demonstrating promising results.

Despite its advantages, rolling out a vaccination program poses logistical hurdles. Effective implementation requires collaboration between government agencies, veterinary experts, and poultry farmers to ensure proper administration and monitoring. 

Additionally, trade restrictions may arise, as some countries hesitate to import poultry from vaccinated flocks due to concerns over virus detection. However, experts argue that the long-term benefits of vaccination far outweigh these challenges, positioning it as the most sustainable solution.

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