South Africa’s Poultry Industry Aims to Save Billions with New HPAI Vaccination Strategy ### DATELINE: Johannesburg, South Africa — July 13, 2026 ### LEAD In a significant shift in strategy, the South African Department of Agriculture is preparing to roll out a new vaccination strategy against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), aiming to safeguard the nation’s poultry industry, which faces substantial economic losses due to the disease. ### NUT GRAF: The new policy, which amends the Animal Diseases Regulations (R. 2026 of 1986), is a welcomed change by the South African Poultry Association (Sapa).
It seeks to move away from the costly mass culling of birds, a practice that has been the primary response to HPAI outbreaks in the past. ### BODY: The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) poses a severe threat to poultry, often resulting in high mortality rates. Historically, mass cullings have been the go-to response to outbreaks, but this approach has proven to be economically devastating.
The latest outbreak in South Africa, involving strains of H5N1 and H7N6, has led to the culling of approximately 7. 5 million birds, with potential losses for the poultry industry exceeding R1. 8 billion (U.
S$ 97. 8 million), according to the South African Poultry Association (Sapa).
The introduction of HPAI vaccinations in South Africa represents a significant change in strategy.
While the new policy is seen as a positive step by industry experts, it also comes with a critical requirement: stricter surveillance.
The success of the vaccination strategy hinges on the ability to detect and monitor the virus effectively.
The South African Poultry Association has welcomed Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen’s recent decision to amend the Animal Diseases Regulations.
The move is expected to save the industry billions by reducing the need for mass cullings and preventing further outbreaks. Industry experts emphasize the importance of rigorous surveillance to ensure the success of the new vaccination strategy. This includes not only monitoring the health of poultry but also ensuring that the vaccines are administered correctly and that the virus is not spreading undetected.
The new vaccination policy is part of a broader effort to protect the South African poultry industry, which is a significant contributor to the country’s economy. ### KICKER: As South Africa embarks on this new vaccination strategy, the nation’s poultry industry holds its breath, hoping that the move will not only save billions but also protect the livelihoods of thousands of farmers and workers dependent on the industry.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: Google News v2
