SA Poultry warns of possible bird flu crisis
There's a warning that South Africa could be at risk of a bird flu crisis in a few months if farms are not given the vaccination green light.
The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus (HPAI) typically migrates with wild birds from Europe to South Africa in the winter.
The SA Poultry Association says there's a heightened urgency for proactive measures.
It says the disease has already spread across Europe, the USA, and Argentina.
The association says the two methods available to prevent or contain HPAI are culling infected and at-risk flocks and vaccination.
READ: Another year to recover from bird flu outbreak, says SA Poultry Association
However, it says no farm has been approved for vaccination by the Department of Agriculture and that culling alone has not been effective in controlling the disease.
It adds South African farmers receive no compensation for culled birds.
South Africa has three registered H5 vaccines, but the SA Poultry says the H7 vaccine needs more testing.
It adds that the poultry industry already faces severe impacts from outbreaks, including R9.5 billion in losses and soaring egg prices.
