South Africa announced the first ever mass vaccination of poultry in order to protect the local flock from avian influenza (June 05, 2025)

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South Africa Launches First Mass Poultry Vaccination to Combat Avian Flu Threat

June 7, 2025

The Department of Agriculture has announced the country’s first mass vaccination program for poultry to prevent avian flu outbreaks, following urgent calls from animal welfare groups and industry stakeholders.

The initiative comes after repeated warnings from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA), which urged government action to avert a repeat of the devastating 2023 outbreak that crippled the poultry sector.

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen confirmed that vaccination teams would prioritize high-risk areas and commercial flocks to contain potential spread and avoid large-scale culling. Vaccines for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) have also been secured, with initial focus on KwaZulu-Natal, where outbreaks have been reported.
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https://southafricatoday.net/south-...ultry-vaccination-to-combat-avian-flu-threat/

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https://www.nda.gov.za/images/Newsr...a-and-an-update-on-foot-and-mouth-disease.pdf

https://www.nda.gov.za/index.php/newsroom/media-release

 

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10 June 2025

MEDIA STATEMENT

GOVERNMENT CONFIRMS START OF HPAI VACCINATION STRATEGY AT AVI AFRICA 2025

In a significant development for South Africa’s agricultural sector, the Deputy Director-General for Agricultural Production, Biosecurity, and Natural Resources Management, Dipepeneneng Serage, confirmed at the AVI Africa conference that government will proceed with the vaccination strategy against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).

A keynote speaker at the event, Mr Serage highlighted the department’s commitment to ensuring that farming can continue safely and sustainably. “My job is to bring science and legislation together and allow farmers to farm without risking anyone’s health, while positioning South Africa as a net exporter of food,” he said.

The government’s HPAI vaccination strategy is a controlled, science-based approach that will focus on four key pillars:

1. Controlled Use of Vaccines – Only vaccines registered in South Africa will be used. Sales and distribution will be strictly controlled, and farmers must register and comply with biosecurity and surveillance protocols.
2. Biosecurity – Enhanced on-farm practices will remain critical to preventing disease spread.
3. Traceability – All vaccinated flocks must be trackable to maintain export integrity and health transparency.
4. Surveillance – Ongoing monitoring will ensure early detection and effective management of any outbreaks.

“This is about ensuring the maximum benefit of vaccination with the minimum risk of the negative effects that come from uncontrolled use,” added Serage.

South Africa is ready to begin vaccinations immediately. Three H5 vaccines have been officially registered for use, with an H7 vaccine currently under development. One farm is already under evaluation for compliance and may be the first to begin vaccinations under the new framework. “We have the data, we know which farms we’re starting with — now we have to start,” continued Serage. The Deputy Director-General concluded by acknowledging that science is still evolving, but the urgency of the situation requires action. “We hope science can evolve much faster so we can talk about HPAI vaccination freely,” he said.

This move represents a major step forward for biosecurity in South Africa’s poultry industry and signals government’s determination to protect both public health and the country’s agricultural economy.

Download the full media statement here.​

https://www.sapoultry.co.za/governm...hpai-vaccination-strategy-at-avi-africa-2025/

 

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(Company news)

Astral starts vaccinating broiler breeding chickens in Gauteng

1st July 2025
By: Marleny Arnoldi
Deputy Editor Online

Integrated poultry producer Astral Foods has been granted a permit by the Department of Agriculture (DoA) to vaccinate one of its broiler breeding flocks against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).

The approval allows Astral to start with a vaccination strategy on one of its largest broiler breeding farms in Gauteng.

This proactive approach to disease prevention will see the approved farm, which represents about 5% of Astral’s total breeding stock, vaccinating chickens in the coming days.
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Astral will use a commercially available H5 strain vaccine supplied by an international manufacturer, which has been used in other parts of the world with allowed vaccination strategies to curb bird flu.

A vaccine for the local strain, H7, that South Africa encountered during the severe 2023 HPAI outbreaks, still awaits final registration.
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Astral plans to apply for more farms to be approved for vaccination.

“This breakthrough will now allow commercial application of the available vaccine in South Africa for the first time.

“Given the global rise in bird flu infections, this development represents a critical step in ensuring food security as well as protecting jobs in South Africa.
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https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/a...oiler-breeding-chickens-in-gauteng-2025-07-01

 

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South Africa issues first permit to vaccinate against Avian Influenza

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

South Africa is set to launch its first-ever poultry vaccination campaign in the coming days, marking a significant step in the country’s effort to minimise the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks.

This follows the Department of Agriculture’s approval of a vaccination permit issued to Astral Foods Limited on 30 June 2025, authorising the company to begin vaccinations against the HPAI virus at one of its broiler breeder farms.

Making the announcement on Tuesday, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen confirmed that the initial phase of the campaign will begin with 200 000 broiler breeders, representing approximately five percent of Astral’s total breeding stock, valued at approximately R35 million.

Steenhuisen hailed this milestone as a testament to the strong partnership between government and the poultry industry in safeguarding national food security and protecting the livelihoods of thousands of South Africans.

He emphasised that the vaccination campaign is a vital step to strengthen flock immunity and prevent the devastating economic losses witnessed during previous outbreaks.

“The 2023 outbreak resulted in millions of birds being culled, which led to severe supply disruptions that affected both producers and consumers. The vaccine being used - targeting the H5 strain of the virus - is already approved for use in other countries implementing vaccination strategies against HPAI.

In May, South Africa suspended imports of live poultry, eggs and fresh (including frozen) poultry meat from Brazil following an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

The decision followed a report from Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, confirming an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1 – clade 2.3.4.4b) on 15 May 2025. – SAnews.gov.za

https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-afr...irst-permit-vaccinate-against-avian-influenza
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5:13 AM · Jun 3, 2026​