3 October 2023
By: Vida Booysen
The South African Veterinary Association (Sava) has made an urgent appeal to the government to immediately introduce vaccines against the H7 and H5 bird flu viruses.
The vaccines are already registered and are effectively used in other countries to combat avian flu outbreaks.
“Given the critical nature of the situation, Sava requests that these vaccines be evaluated for emergency importation under Article 21 of Act 101, designed to enable swift action in emergencies like this,” says Dr Wilhelm Maré, chairman of Sava’s poultry group.
He urges Dr Mpho Maja, director of animal health, to approve the import of the vaccines as quickly as possible.
“While these vaccines have not been fully tested against local bird flu strains, their immediate use is vital in this emergency,” he says.
The poultry industry is battling a widespread outbreak of bird flu threatening every poultry farm. Despite strict biosecurity measures, the virus has spread ruthlessly, plunging the industry into crisis and leaving shelves in various places without eggs.
Several reasons for the crisis
According to Maré, the precise reasons for the rapid spread of the disease remain unclear, but several factors play a role. They include the highly contagious nature of the virus, unfavourable weather conditions, and difficulties in preventing the movement of infected birds.
In the medium to long term, a multidisciplinary approach must be followed to enhance the bird flu control measures in South Africa and vaccination is a vital part of it, says Maré.
“Vaccines intended for managing the disease in the long term must undergo thorough evaluation and be registered as quickly as possible. However, this process is not smooth enough to address the immediate crisis.”
Maré warns that if decisive and swift action is not taken, the virus could pose a threat to human health as well. “While the current strain poses no immediate threat to humans, it is essential that it be continuously monitored and analysed to detect any changes that may occur later.”
Administering vaccines will reduce virus loads in South Africa, a crucial step in reducing the risk of an outbreak among humans. The survival of the poultry industry is at stake, he says.
“Ineffective or slow response to end the outbreak will have a direct socioeconomic impact on an industry that employs more than 110 000 people, as well as on millions of South Africans for whom chicken meat is an affordable source of protein.”
