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South Africa Faces Imminent Bird Flu Crisis: Poultry Industry Urges Vaccine Approval
The South African Poultry Association (Sapa) has issued an urgent warning about an impending bird flu outbreak, calling on the government to approve vaccinations to prevent another devastating crisis.
With Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) spreading rapidly across the Northern Hemisphere, Sapa fears the virus could soon hit South Africa, threatening the country’s poultry industry, food security, and economy.
Global Bird Flu Outbreak Sparks Concern
The UK and US have faced severe outbreaks, with:
- 1.8 million birds culled in the UK over three months
- 23.2 million birds culled in the US in December 2024 alone
These mass culls have led to egg shortages and soaring poultry prices, highlighting the potential economic and food security risks for South Africa.
Sapa noted that bird flu often migrates with wild birds from Europe to South Africa in winter, making early prevention critical.
“Without vaccination, South Africa may once again face catastrophic consequences from bird flu,” Sapa warned.
A Repeat of 2023’s Poultry Crisis?
South Africa’s poultry industry was devastated in 2023 when over 9.6 million birds were culled due to avian flu. The impact included:
- Nationwide egg shortages
- Poultry price spikes
- An estimated R9.5 billion loss
Farmers fear a repeat of last year’s crisis, with Sapa stressing that South Africa must act now to prevent another catastrophe.
Why Culling Isn’t Enough – The Case for Vaccination
Sapa emphasized that culling infected flocks alone has failed to contain bird flu outbreaks in the US and Europe.
“Egg producers in the US are now lobbying for vaccination due to the severe impact of the disease,” Sapa noted.
France, however, has successfully vaccinated 20 million ducks, demonstrating that vaccines can mitigate the spread of HPAI.
Challenges Facing South African Farmers
South African poultry farmers face two major obstacles:
- No Compensation for Culled Birds: Unlike other countries, local farmers receive no financial aid when their flocks are culled.
- Lack of Government Approval for Vaccines: The Department of Agriculture has yet to approve HPAI vaccines, despite industry appeals.
Experts Call for Government Action
Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz), stressed the need for improved biosecurity and vaccine innovation.
“We must learn from the 2023 outbreak to keep South Africa prepared for the next unfortunate wave,” he said.
Independent analyst Anthony Clark echoed these concerns, highlighting that Sapa has been pushing for vaccinations for over a year.
“The government has been dragging its feet, and Sapa is now issuing an urgent warning to approve vaccines before winter,” Clark warned.
With the Northern Hemisphere’s HPAI spread serving as a red alert, the South African poultry industry is urging swift action to prevent another disaster.
What’s Next?
As winter approaches, industry leaders are pressuring the government to approve HPAI vaccinations to safeguard poultry farming, food security, and consumers.
Failure to act could see millions of birds lost, soaring food prices, and severe economic damage.
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