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10,000 ostriches destroyed in South Africa in connection with bird flu
Last reviewed: 30.06.2025
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The culling of 10,000 ostriches on South African farms has failed to stop a bird flu epidemic that has halted ostrich meat exports, AFP reports.
The first cases of H5N2 influenza were reported in birds in the Western Cape on 9 April. Although not as dangerous to humans as the highly lethal H5N1, the strain poses a serious threat to the poultry industry, prompting a halt to ostrich meat exports from South Africa on 14 April.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the epidemic has now spread to the entire Maloe Karru Valley, where about 70% of the country's ostrich farms are concentrated. To stop the transmission of the virus, about 10,000 ostriches were destroyed. However, this measure was not effective enough, and the infection spread to eight farms.
According to a statement from the South African Ministry of Agriculture, the destruction of birds will continue until the epidemic is completely over. The European Commission has sent a team of specialists to South Africa to help fight the infection.
Experts estimate that the economic losses from the cessation of ostrich meat exports will amount to approximately $15.4 million per month. South Africa accounts for approximately 65 percent of the world's production of this product.
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