The poultry industry in South Africa is cautiously feeling relieved. After a difficult year with many outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), it seems that the number of new cases is starting to decrease. Nevertheless, the industry is acutely aware of the damage inflicted and is earnestly looking for solutions to enhance resilience against potential future risks.
Just in the last few weeks, a new outbreak was confirmed, but it actually started in August 2023. This single instance, which concerns a chicken farm in the Gauteng Province, demonstrates the ongoing impact of the previous year. The H7N6 strain of HPAI has resulted in the deaths of more than 600 birds, adding to the already high total of 116 affected flocks in South Africa since May 2023. This results in a severe impact on almost 11.2 million birds.
Since mid-2023, there have been 28 confirmed outbreaks of the H5N1 strain, impacting nearly 1.8 million birds. Since the beginning of this year, there have been no new cases related to either variant in commercial poultry, which is fortunate. Nevertheless, a wild bird in the Western Cape tested positive for an avian influenza virus from the H5 family at the end of February, emphasizing the ongoing risk.
The pattern of these outbreaks presents a worrying picture. The H7N6 outbreak hit Gauteng Province the hardest, resulting in 73 confirmed cases. Over half of the impacted flocks were made up of laying hens, indicating their heightened susceptibility. Severe losses were also experienced by broiler breeders, as 17 outbreaks were reported.
The H5N1 strain had 19 outbreaks, with the Western Cape being the epicenter. This consisted of every verified case in the commercial poultry flocks in the country, as well as a notable effect on laying hen operations.
The H7N6 strain is highlighted as a serious concern by the South African Poultry Association in the most recent edition of the Poultry Bulletin. The mortality rates linked to this variant were significantly higher in comparison to H5N1. Even though H5N1 has been a worldwide worry in the past few years, SAPA emphasizes the distinct difficulty presented by the H7N6 variant, which has mostly been limited to South Africa.
The South African poultry industry has a crucial opportunity with the immediate crisis appearing to be easing. The sector can increase its ability to withstand future HPAI outbreaks by putting in place more rigorous biosecurity measures, spreading flocks across different locations, and possibly using vaccinations if it is suitable. This proactive strategy will protect millions of birds and guarantee the ongoing stability of the poultry industry, which is a crucial factor in South Africa’s food security.
