In West Africa, new outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have been reported on farms in Niger and Nigeria. Two different virus variants have been linked to the latest outbreaks in South African poultry.

Ongoing load-shedding by the nation’s main electricity supplier has resulted in the culling of 10 million chicks. 

South Africa’s Department of Employment and Labour is investigating an incident at an Astral Foods facility that left two people dead and led six more people to be hospitalized.

While the H5N1 serotype of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus has been circulating in South Africa for some time, the country has recently reported its first cases linked to an H5N2 variant after an 11-year hiatus.

Among the highlights in the annual report of South African poultry and feed company Astral Foods are year-on-year increases of 102% in operating profit, and almost 22% in revenue.

In the past month, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been reported for the first time in Algeria and Réunion. 

Over the last full three-month period (April to June of 2022), there were no new outbreaks of HPAI in South Africa. While the news will be welcomed by the nation’s poultry farmers, the South African Poultry Association warns that HPAI could return at any time.

RCL Foods of South Africa is taking steps to form Rainbow as a standalone company that will involve RCL’s poultry and animal feed businesses.

South African poultry company Astral Foods has formed an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) committee.

A five-year project in Sub-Saharan Africa has laid solid foundations for increasing farmer knowledge, improving disease control and raising livelihoods.