The SA Poultry Association mentioned the variety of avian flu instances in South Africa this yr was larger than in any yr because the first outbreaks had been reported.
- SA poultry farmers have warned of potential rooster and egg shortages as they battle the worst chicken flu outbreak to hit the nation, trade says.
- Producer Quantum Foods mentioned that this yr it had misplaced almost two million chickens – value greater than R100 million – due to the illness.
- The outbreak has cost the corporate R220 million to this point.
- For extra monetary information, go to the News24 Business https://www.news24.com/fin24front page.
South African poultry farmers have warned of potential rooster and egg shortages as they battle what the trade says is the worst chicken flu outbreak ever to hit the nation.
Producer Quantum Foods mentioned on Friday that this yr it had misplaced almost two million chickens – value a complete of greater than R100 million – due to the illness.
“The chicken flu outbreak is the worst that South Africa has witnessed,” fellow producer Astral mentioned in a buying and selling update on Thursday.
“(It) has already prompted quick provides of desk eggs into the market, and it’s anticipated that the provision of poultry meat into the worth chain may very well be affected negatively within the coming months.”
The outbreak has cost it R220 million to this point, the corporate mentioned.
READ | ‘Dying like flies.’ SA’s worst chicken flu outbreak may imply rooster shortages, warns Astral
One of the continent’s main poultry producers, South Africa reported the primary chicken flu instances in business farms in April, in keeping with an trade group.
Earlier this month, the South African Poultry Association (SAPA) mentioned the nation was contending with two totally different strains of the virus, the notorious H5N1 and a brand new pressure recognized as H7N6.
The latter was spreading by way of the northeastern provinces of Mpumalanga and Gauteng “at an alarming fee”, in keeping with Astral.
Bird flu doesn’t usually infect people. But H5N1 is more and more infecting mammals worldwide, from sea lions in Argentina to foxes in Finland, elevating fears it may cross on extra simply to people.
The virus has usually been confined to seasonal outbreaks, however since 2021 instances have emerged year-round, and throughout the globe, resulting in what specialists say is the most important outbreak ever seen.
SAPA mentioned the variety of avian flu instances in South Africa this yr was larger than in any yr because the first outbreaks had been reported in business farms in 2017.
