Fast-tracking vaccinations amid fears of chicken / egg shortage

GAUTENG – The South African government plans to fast-track the use of vaccines to fight bird flu as virulent strains of the disease sweep across SA’s poultry sector, risking supply. Almost 1,3 million birds were culled or killed due to the virus in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, while it is estimated that more than 1,4 million birds had been culled in Gauteng alone. Astral Foods, the country’s largest poultry producer, warned late last week of a shortage of table eggs and poultry meat in the coming months.