While bird flu is a rising global concern, two measures to prevent another devastating outbreak in South Africa are on hold, awaiting government decisions.
Many countries pay compensation for chickens culled during bird flu outbreaks. The payments not only help poultry farmers rebuild their businesses, but compensation is seen as a disease control measure because it encourages farmers to report outbreaks.
Delays enable the continued spread of the virus.
South Africa, so far, is different. Since the first outbreak in 2017, the government has refused to pay compensation for the birds it orders to be culled, contending that sick birds have no value.
This refusal has been successfully challenged, with a High Court ruling in June ordering the government to reconsider a farmer’s claim based on the fair value of the culled birds. The Department of Agriculture has yet to decide whether to accept or appeal against this decision.
Vaccination is increasingly being seen as an alternative to prevent the mass cullings of poultry flocks. However, the South African poultry industry says the requirements laid down by the government need to be changed, because they are too onerous and too expensive.
No vaccinations have yet taken place in a country which experienced its worst outbreak of bird flu in 2023 and fears that the virus might make a devastating return.
