The start of the vaccination programme comes as the first bird flu outbreaks of this winter hit poultry producers.
According to the SA Poultry Association (SAPA), there have been two outbreaks so far, in North West and Mpumalanga provinces. The culling of chickens has started.
For months now, SAPA has been stressing the need to start vaccinating chickens against bird flu, as culling and biosecurity measures at poultry facilities have not prevented the spread of the virus anywhere in the world.
South Africa suffered its worst bird flu outbreak in 2023, when widespread infections and mass cullings cost the poultry industry more than R9.5 billion. The industry has said that another outbreak on this scale would be “catastrophic”.
