South Africa reports new bird flu outbreak on poultry farms

South African authorities have confirmed new outbreaks of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza strain on two poultry farms, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). These are the country’s first reported cases since September 2024.

The Paris-based agency noted that the virus, known for its severe impact on bird populations and potential risk to humans, was detected during routine surveillance. Although H5N1…