According to a ProMED Mail posting, since April 2021 authorities in the Republic of South Africa have reported 145 outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic H5N1 strain Avian Influenza to the World Organization for Animal Health.  A large number of egg complexes in the Western Cape Province have been affected with 68 outbreaks recorded. In addition 39 outbreaks have occurred in the inland Province of Gauteng and 18 in KwaZulu-Natal.  Since April 2021, close to three million laying hens have been depleted and the broiler industry has lost close to a million birds,

It is estimated that a third of egg-production flocks have been affected by H5N1, according to the South African Poultry Association.  Although the last case in a commercial flock occurred in late February 2020, H5N1 virus is frequently isolated from free-living birds and cases among subsistence poultry in rural areas are probably not diagnosed.  As the Republic of South Africa is currently in mid-winter, a high risk of outbreaks exists. 

South Africa was impacted by H5N8 in 2017, resulting in extensive losses in laying flocks in addition to broiler breeders and growout.

Notwithstanding the possibility of further losses, South Africa has imposed unjustified anti-dumping duties on imported chicken to protect the domestic poultry industry at the expense of consumers.