The global wave of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is much more than a veterinary disease because of its impact on the economy, public health and food security. In Africa where millions of people rely on poultry farming, the threat is existential. The virus, often carried silently by migratory birds, is creeping into new territory, demanding that African nations treat biosecurity and vaccination as an urgent matter of survival.
The Cost of Delay: Lesson from Brazil
The single most critical lessons from the global HPAI fight comes from Brazil. When the world’s largest poultry exporter confirmed its first HPAI case on a commercial farm in May 2025, the swiftness of the response was key to containment. Research into that outbreak showed a stark reality notably: a 3-day delay could lead to a median of 4 secondary infections while 5-day and 10-day delay could trigger 6 and 34 secondary infections respectively, completely overwhelming the region’s ability to contain it.
Brazil’s rapid, 32-day response eliminated the outbreak, highlighting that immediate action is the only defense against a crisis that can multiply exponentially and trigger global trade bans. For African nations, where veterinary resources are often strained, this time-sensitivity is paramount.
The Financial Scars and Strategic Shift in Southern Africa
The continent’s poultry sector is once again on high alert. A fresh wave of HPAI is sweeping through Southern Africa. Botswana’s recent outbreak emphasizes how the H5N1 strain can easily infiltrate rural communities before being declared and resolved.
But the real economic pain is visible in South Africa. After years of relentless outbreaks and now confirmed by the FAO to be in the current HPAI risk wave, the country is making a first time bold shift towards vaccination against the H5 strain. It’s a landmark shift not a replacement for biosecurity, but a realistic lifeline to protect food supply and livelihoods.
The 2023 H7N6 outbreak alone decimated roughly 25% of South Africa’s layer flock, inflicting an estimated R3 billion in damages a loss that translates directly into lost jobs, soaring egg prices for consumers, and devastated local economies. This is a significant move away from the unsustainable cycle of mass culling and trade restrictions.
A Global Warning for West Africa
The virus doesn’t respect trade agreements or national borders. With global poultry trade and the movement of live chicks acting as a major corridor, the threat is always imminent.
This is why the message must be particularly urgent for regions like West and Central Africa. Given the porous nature of regional borders and the essential role of the poultry trade in supporting rural diets and income, neighboring producers must act now.
The time for vigilance is now.
