South Africa Battles Dual Strains of Avian Flu: Over 7.5 Million Chickens Culled

A catastrophic outbreak of two separate strains of avian influenza has put South Africa's poultry industry on high alert. As the number of cases escalates, approximately 7.5 million chickens have been culled nationwide. The South African government and the National Poultry Association confirmed these statistics on Tuesday.

The disease has claimed the lives of 205,000 chickens spread across at least 60 separate sites, with the majority of these outbreaks located in Gauteng province. This region encompasses Johannesburg, South Africa's largest city, and the capital, Pretoria.

Egg and poultry shortages threaten consumers, leading several Johannesburg supermarkets to ration egg sales to just one six-egg carton per customer. Acknowledging these supply constraints, the government has moved swiftly to expedite new import permits to ensure a continued egg supply.

About 2.5 million culled chickens were bred for meat, while the remaining 5 million were egg-laying hens. This culling represents 20-30% of the country's total chicken stock, according to Izaak Breitenbach, general manager of the South African Poultry Association.

The Agriculture Minister, Thoko Didiza, revealed plans to import eggs from abroad and to also possibly implement a bird flu vaccination program. Meanwhile, Namibia, South Africa's neighbor, has imposed a ban on chicken meat and egg imports from the nation.

These avian flu outbreaks have dealt a crushing blow to a sector already suffering from an electricity crisis. The loss to the industry is currently pegged at $25 million.

“Catastrophic” is how Wilhelm Mare, chairman of the Poultry Group in the South African Veterinary Association, describes the present situation. He warns that up to 8.5 million egg-laying chickens and more than 10 million birds could be affected overall.

With South Africans reliant on eggs as a cost-effective protein source, rising egg prices due to the bird flu shortage will only heighten the existing high food inflation.