With fears mounting over another bird flu outbreak, concerns have been raised about the availability and accessibility of vaccines to protect South Africa’s poultry industry. Industry leaders and poultry farmers warn that without urgent government intervention, the consequences could be severe for businesses and consumers.
According to Izaak Breitenbach, chief executive officer of the South African Poultry Association (Sapa), the country currently has three registered H5 bird flu (avian influenza) vaccines available. However, an H7 vaccine, crucial for comprehensive protection, is still awaiting approval a process that is expected to take the best part of this year.
He said that despite some vaccines’ availability, accessing them remains a major hurdle, especially for small- and medium-scale producers.
“This is the problem, that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a controlled disease and therefore the department of agriculture set biosecurity protocols and monitoring protocols that farmers must comply with before they get approval to vaccinate.
“These standards were set so high that no farms in South Africa could qualify and therefore no farmers big or small can vaccinate. We have elevated this matter to the office of Minister Steenhuisen for resolution,” Breitenbach said.
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While some may worry about the logistical and financial challenges of mass vaccination, Breitenbach addressed these concerns, stating that it is not a big issue, but would take time.
“We will need to vaccinate every long-living bird at day old and it will take a year before all birds are vaccinated and we have flock immunity,” he said.
The cost of inaction
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 980 outbreaks have been reported in five geographic regions worldwide at the end of February 2025.
The potential consequences of another outbreak in South Africa are dire.
Breitenbach stressed that without vaccination, the industry faces a repeat of the 2023 crisis, which led to R9.5 billion in increased costs and higher prices for consumers. The outbreak resulted in the loss of 9.6 million birds due to death and culling, with Gauteng alone losing 90% of its poultry stock.
For poultry farmers like Kamogelo Thobejane in Limpopo, the prospect of another outbreak is deeply concerning which could result in financial losses.
“If an outbreak occurs, we won’t be able to sell our chickens. It’s stressful because we have bills to pay, and it’s going to be a tough situation. We are still trying to recover from last December’s heatwave, and now bird flu is looming again. I’ve already lost some birds, they have shown flu-like symptoms, and they are not growing,” he said.
Another poultry farmer in Limpopo, Frans Matlakala, said he has already suffered significant losses and does not know the cause.
“I lost almost half of my stock. January, I think, it was 110 birds and then in February, I lost almost 220 birds. So, now I’ve taken recess to fumigate my chicken houses and wait for at least two weeks,” he said.
Strengthening biosecurity
Meanwhile, the deputy director-general of agricultural production, Dipepeneneng Serage, stated that proactive measures have already been implemented to prevent another outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
“These strategies include strengthening biosecurity measures, vaccination, and movement control of poultry,” he said.
Serage highlighted that a vaccination protocol has been established with industry players as a necessary step before vaccination can occur. He stated that a vaccine for one strain has already been successfully registered.
Dr Abongile Balarane, chief executive officer of Sapa’s egg organisation, highlighted the logistical challenges, noting that additional qualified personnel will be required to assist with administering the vaccine.
“For the industry, it is important to ensure every bird out there is vaccinated, hence we wish the cost to be fairly reasonable. Please note vaccines will also be voluntary to those producers that wish to use it,” he said.
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