Consumers and retailers scramble to get their hands on eggs in Mbombela

Eleven locations identified with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks are in Mpumalanga.

As a result, consumers and retailers alike are scrambling to get their hands on eggs as shortages escalate at an alarming rate.

According to the director of animal health of the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), Dr Mpho Maja, a total of 72 HPAI outbreaks have been confirmed in South Africa.

Eleven of these are in eMalahleni, Lekwa, Steve Tshwete and the Victor Khayne municipal areas.

Edward Mkhonto of Heidel Eggs in White River said they are in trouble.

“We can’t supply to our new clients and are currently trying to assist our regular customers. Only when chicken production picks up will we be able to supply eggs again. The company (Hyline Chicken Production) that supplies us with chickens said the earliest we can expect new ones is in the middle of next year. This is a disaster. The chickens that we currently have cannot produce eggs,” Mkhonto said.

Maja said that all HPAI-suspected farms have been placed under quarantine and no movement of birds, eggs or other products are allowed on, off or through these farms.

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“Samples are collected for verification of the suspicion and back and forward tracing is implemented to detect any possible spread of disease. So far most of the affected properties have culled their chickens and carcases have been disposed of by dumping at an approved hazardous dump site for incineration, rendering or composting on farm; or on-farm burial where allowed by the environmental affairs department. Eggs are either taken under veterinary supervision for pasteurisation, or moved after double fumigation or fogging,” he said.

According to Justin Botes, a store manager of Crossing SUPERSPAR, they are currently also experiencing a shortage of eggs.

“It is bad, we have nothing at all at the moment. We managed to get eggs from a few suppliers which we are going to use in our bakery to bake bread and rolls. We will receive some eggs on Thursday, but it will not be our full order as usual. Consumers are panicking, so they are buying in bulk, which also results into shortages,” he said.

Reggie Ngcobo, the spokesperson for DALRRD said the birds infected with HPAI get sick quickly and die.

“Generally the first sign of sick animals, including birds, is a drop in production, meaning that sick birds will produce very few, if any, eggs. This, together with the added mitigation of placing farms under quarantine, means no eggs from infected properties will make their way to shelves,” Ngcobo said.

* Hyline Chickens did not respond to questions at the time of publishing.