South Africa has announced its first mass vaccination of poultry in an effort to protect the local flock from avian flu. Additionally, the department has ordered vaccines to combat foot and mouth disease.
“Our vaccination team, which includes poultry specialist veterinarians from the University of Pretoria and the Agricultural Research Council, has received a list of farms to be vaccinated from the poultry industry. We are prioritizing high-risk areas and commercial flocks to contain the virus and prevent further culling,” Steenhuisen stated.
He mentioned that the country had secured a vaccine supply, ensured cold chain capacity, and was developing traceability and reporting mechanisms as part of a broader preparedness strategy. Furthermore, 50 animal health technicians have been appointed on short-term contracts to aid with the vaccination rollout, with their induction and refresher training expected to begin next week.
Steenhuisen indicated that the department has also ordered foot and mouth disease vaccines for KwaZulu-Natal, while assessments, along with forward and backward tracing of the outbreak in Gauteng, are ongoing. More than 900,000 doses of vaccines have been ordered, with the first batch expected to arrive next week.
“These plans are not only about responding to outbreaks but also about establishing permanent infrastructure to manage future risks. More broadly, we are creating a biosecurity council that will bring together law enforcement, veterinarians, scientists, the Border Management Authority, and industry representatives. We are implementing a farm-to-fork national traceability system for livestock,” Steenhuisen explained.
He also noted that Onderstepoort is being upgraded to restore vaccine self-sufficiency, and rural veterinary services and emergency responses are being enhanced. A dip-tank model, in partnership with traditional leaders, is also being introduced.
Steenhuisen praised Karan Beef for its quick response to the foot and mouth outbreak at its facility in Heidelberg during a virtual meeting held on Wednesday night with the company and departmental officials.
The agriculture department reported ongoing signs of active virus circulation in the disease management area (DMA) in KwaZulu-Natal, with some outbreaks detected outside the DMA. A system has been established to assess the level of biosecurity on individual farms, with the aim of aligning control measures to the biosecurity risks.
