By Carien Kruger
The first outbreaks this year of highly contagious bird flu were reported on two farms in the north of the country – in Mpumalanga and in North West.
The H5N1 strain of bird flu has been confirmed on both farms. Izaak Breitenbach, CEO of the South African Poultry Association’s broiler chicken organisation, says it is the same strain that has spread widely in the Americas and the European Union (EU).
According to information, the outbreak in the Mkhondo municipal area in Mpumalanga was reported on the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) website on 21 June. About 100 000 chickens were infected. About 100 000 chickens were also infected in the outbreak in the Tswaing municipal area in the North West. This outbreak was reported on 25 June.
Breitenbach says the two outbreaks are not related and the disease has not spread further. All infected chickens on the two farms, both broiler breeders, are being culled.
The H5N1 strain is the same strain for which Astral Foods was granted a permit on Monday to vaccinate its breeders on a Gauteng farm. Astral is the first producer to be issued such a permit and it is subject to compliance with strict conditions from the Department of Agriculture.
Huge losses for industry
In 2023-24, the egg industry suffered billions of rand in losses when both breeders and laying hens were hit by a unique South African H7N6 strain of bird flu. Consumer prices for eggs have skyrocketed due to a shortage.
The broiler chicken industry has also suffered major losses due to the outbreaks on breeding farms. The outbreaks on breeding farms have led producers to import hatching eggs from abroad at great expense.
The state obliges producers to cull all chickens that have been in contact with infected chickens. However, local producers are not compensated for this, as is the case in the EU and America, among others.
