Current:Home > ScamsSouth Africa bird flu outbreaks see 7.5 million chickens culled, causing poultry and egg shortages -Wealth Legacy Solutions
South Africa bird flu outbreaks see 7.5 million chickens culled, causing poultry and egg shortages
View
Date:2025-04-18 18:38:48
Cape Town, South Africa — South Africa has culled about 7.5 million chickens in an effort to contain dozens of outbreaks of two separate strains of avian influenza that threaten to create a shortage of eggs and poultry for consumers, the government and national poultry association said Tuesday. At least 205,000 chickens have died from bird flu in at least 60 separate outbreaks across the country, with more than half of those outbreaks in Gauteng province, which includes the country's biggest city, Johannesburg, and the capital, Pretoria.
Some grocery stores in Johannesburg were limiting the number of eggs customers were allowed to buy this week — in some cases to one carton of six eggs — and the government acknowledged there were "supply constraints."
The government announced approximately 2.5 million chickens bred for their meat had been culled. The South African Poultry Association said another 5 million egg-laying chickens had been culled. The 7.5 million birds represented about 20-30% of South Africa's total chicken stock, South African Poultry Association general manager Izaak Breitenbach said.
The government was moving to fast-track new import permits for companies to bring in eggs from other countries "to ensure sufficient supplies for consumers," Agriculture Minister Thoko Didiza said. Her ministry is also considering embarking on a vaccination program to halt the bird flu outbreaks and said the number of farms with cases was increasing.
Neighboring Namibia has banned chicken meat and egg imports from South Africa.
The outbreaks are hitting an industry already struggling due to an electricity crisis. Breitenbach said South Africa has had three major bird flu outbreaks in recent years, and the latest ones were "by far the worst," already costing the industry losses of at least $25 million.
Vaccines would need to be imported and hopefully be ready to use in two to six months, he said.
Wilhelm Mare, chairman of the poultry group in the South African Veterinary Association, said as many as 8.5 million egg-laying chickens could be affected and more than 10 million birds overall.
"It tells me we're going to have problems with this situation for quite a while," Mare said, calling it "catastrophic" for the industry.
The United States' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said last month that bird flu outbreaks were on the rise globally, with more than 21,000 outbreaks across the world between 2013 and 2022, but the CDC notes on its website only one human infection during 2022, and assesses the general risk to public health from the disease as "low."
The U.S. grappled with similar circumstances to South Africa in 2022, with bird flu contributing to soaring egg prices nationwide.
Eggs are an important and affordable source of protein in South Africa, but prices have risen steadily this year and the shortages caused by bird flu were expected to push prices up again and add to high food inflation for South Africans.
The chicken industry in South Africa has already been hit hard this year by power shortages, which have resulted in planned regular electricity blackouts to save energy, but badly impacting businesses.
South African farmers said in January they had been forced to cull nearly 10 million young chicks, as Africa's most advanced economy experienced record blackouts at the start of the year, causing production to slow dramatically and leading to overcrowding on chicken farms.
The poultry industry has also lobbied the South African government to impose permanent duties on countries like Brazil, Denmark, Poland, Spain, and the United States for what the industry refers to as the "dumping" of cheap chicken products in South Africa, threatening local businesses.
- In:
- Africa
- Eggs
- Bird Flu
- South Africa
- Avian Influenza
veryGood! (54167)
Related
- John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
- How Tigers turned around season to secure first postseason berth since 2014
- Helene wreaking havoc across Southeast; 33 dead; 4.5M in the dark: Live updates
- Former 'Survivor' player, Louisiana headmaster convicted of taping students' mouths shut
- A Mississippi company is sentenced for mislabeling cheap seafood as premium local fish
- Tips to prevent oversharing information about your kids online: Watch
- Christine Sinclair to retire at end of NWSL season. Canadian soccer star ends career at 41
- Meghan Trainor talks touring with kids, her love of T-Pain and learning self-acceptance
- 'Survivor' 47 finale, part one recap: 2 players were sent home. Who's left in the game?
- 'Dangerous rescue' saves dozens stranded on hospital roof amid Helene deluge
Ranking
- Megan Fox's ex Brian Austin Green tells Machine Gun Kelly to 'grow up'
- Indianapolis man sentenced to 189 years for killing 3 young men found along a path
- Indianapolis man sentenced to 189 years for killing 3 young men found along a path
- Martha Stewart Shares the Cooking Hack Chefs Have Been Gatekeeping for Years
- NCAA hits former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh with suspension, show-cause for recruiting violations
- Asheville has been largely cut off after Helene wrecked roads and knocked out power and cell service
- Why 'My Old Ass' is the 'holy grail' of coming-of-age movies
- Anthropologie’s Extra 50% off Sale Includes Stylish Dresses, Tops & More – Starting at $9, Save Up to 71%
Recommendation
The GOP and Kansas’ Democratic governor ousted targeted lawmakers in the state’s primary
Celebrity dog Swaggy Wolfdog offers reward for safe return of missing $100,000 chain
Zendaya’s New Wax Figure Truly Rewrites the Stars
Sheriff takes grim tack with hurricane evacuation holdouts
Bodycam footage shows high
Daughter finds ‘earth angel’ in woman who made her dad laugh before Colorado supermarket shooting
Bad Bunny Looks Unrecognizable With Hair Transformation on Caught Stealing Set
Facing a possible strike at US ports, Biden administration urges operators to negotiate with unions