South Africa is Facing a Major Outbreak of Avian Influenza

Chickens that were subjected to new techniques to discover an outbreak of avian influenza in Cameroon. Photo: Laura Gil Martinez/IAEA.

Grocery stores in South Africa are experiencing a severe shortage of eggs, due to the loss of 20 to 30 percent of the country’s chicken stock to an outbreak of Avian Influenza that has been around since April of this year.

Eggs have become an expensive and elusive commodity for many consumers. The newest outbreak of Avian Influenza, also known as bird flu, has ravaged the population of domestic birds, leading South African poultry farmers to cull an estimated 7.5 million birds in an attempt to stop the spread. 

Since 2017, seven out of the nine provinces in South Africa reported outbreaks of bird flu, with the first outbreak beginning in Mpumalanga, an eastern province. The government has enacted measures, such as culling large populations of infected chickens, since the beginning of the outbreak in April to stop the spread. This practice left the poultry industry with a major shortage. One they are not easily able to bounce back from. According to a report from the United States Department of Agriculture in October, it will take at least 6 months for the laying industry to get back up to the levels of production they were at before the outbreak.

The South African Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Urban Development responded by proposing containment and prevention methods, which could include the vaccination of chickens. There has not been a formal proposal of how vaccinations would proceed. The main political opponent of the current ruling South African political party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), has criticized the government's response to the outbreak and stated that “South Africa was found flat-footed and ill-prepared for the disease”. According to the DA, the current government should have been prepared for the outbreak following the last major event in 2017.

The outbreak of bird flu also impacts South African trade. In September, one of South Africa’s main trade partners, Namibia, banned poultry imports from South Africa in an attempt to limit the spread into the country. The ban has potentially large effects on both countries, since Namibia relies heavily on imports from South Africa with over 75% of its poultry imports coming from its neighbor. 

In recent years, the rate of Avian Influenza outbreaks has increased, not only in South Africa, but around the world. The U.S., France, Japan, and Britain all reported a rise in the disease and the diversity of affected animals. Areas where the virus was not previously detected, such as Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru, have reported their first cases. There are also reports of a few human cases being found. Last year, the United States experienced an outbreak of Avian Influenza, which caused the death of 58 million domestic birds. Consumers in the U.S dealt with higher than normal egg prices, but shortages of eggs were not as widespread as they are in South Africa. The industry in the U.S. also has the ability to bounce back from outbreaks in three months instead of South Africa’s estimated six.

Scientists swab a wood duck for avian influenza. Photo: U.S Fish and Wildlife Service.

While no one knows for certain why the recent outbreaks are exceeding those of the past, theories are pointing to genetic mutations, which allow a larger variety of bird species, as well as mammals, to be affected. The virus’ ability to mutate quickly and its resistance to cold temperatures helps it survive in harsh environments and spread more easily.

While the spread of Avian Influenza continues, the World Organisation for Animal Health advises that farmers heavily monitor the health of their animals, quickly report any cases of bird flu, keep their flocks away from wild birds, and maintain good hygiene practices. In certain cases, it is also recommended that vaccinations be used to further prevent the disease in flocks. With these measures, they hope that the disease can be monitored and the risk of transmission to more populations of animals will be limited.