Bird flu, and the measures to counter it, are going to be key issues both domestically and internationally in 2025.
In South Africa, the poultry industry is looking ahead with some apprehension to the coming winter months when bird flu outbreaks start increasing. Having spent 2024 in recovery mode after a disastrous 2023, poultry producers are returning to profitability. They do not want a repeat of the widespread bird flu outbreaks which turned 2023 into the worst year the industry has experienced.
They have so far been unable to persuade the government (or new agriculture minister John Steenhuisen) that vaccination is an essential measure to counter the bird flu threat. While some vaccines have been approved for use, the conditions that producers must meet to start a vaccination programme are so onerous that no vaccines have been administered.
It remains to be seen whether government and poultry producers can schedule talks in the coming weeks to overcome the obstacles and get vaccinations underway.
