Although South Africa is not currently experiencing an outbreak, global increases in bird flu cases have raised concerns. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has also urged proactive measures to prevent future outbreaks. The vaccination campaign, developed in partnership with the poultry industry, targets high-risk areas and commercial flocks to reduce the risk of further culls.
John Steenhuisen, South Africa’s Agriculture Minister: “What we are trying to do is to prevent the devastation that could come if there’s an outbreak[…] We have made a decision in collaboration with the poultry association in South Africa to embark upon this process.” He highlighted the economic impact of avian influenza, noting that outbreaks drive up food prices and threaten jobs. “The government of national unity has committed to bringing down the cost of food for consumers in South Africa and this is just one step in trying to prevent runaway food prices if we have a mass cull or a mass death rate of chickens as a result of avian influenza.”
The vaccination effort involves poultry specialist veterinarians from the University of Pretoria and the Agricultural Research Council. They are prioritizing farms identified by the poultry industry, focusing on high-risk zones. The initiative includes securing vaccine supplies, maintaining cold chain logistics, and implementing traceability and reporting systems to enhance preparedness.
Steenhuisen emphasized the poultry sector’s growth potential, particularly for emerging farmers: “There’s huge growth potential for this particular sector and also there’s a huge growth potential for emerging and previously disadvantaged farmers to enter into this sector and so we’re obviously looking to expand it massively. The more supply we can create, I think the cheaper the prices will be for consumers.” This campaign supports both consumer affordability and the expansion of the poultry industry.
