South Africa: First-Ever poultry HPAI vaccination campaign
2 July, 2025
South Africa has launched its first-ever poultry vaccination campaign, a move expected to play a key role in reducing the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks.
The vaccination drive follows the Department of Agriculture’s recent approval of a permit issued to Astral Foods Limited, South Africa’s leading poultry producer. The permit allows the company to vaccinate poultry against HPAI at one of its broiler-breeder farms in Gauteng. Vaccinations will begin imminently, targeting approximately 200,000 birds, about 5% of the company’s total breeding stock.
A commercially available H5-type HPAI vaccine, already approved and used internationally, will be employed.
