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By Nobuhle Simelane
BBC News, Johannesburg

South Africa is currently facing one of its worst outbreaks of bird flu, resulting in a shortage of eggs, which have become the country’s hottest commodity. Millions of chickens have been culled, leading to a threat to the poultry meat supply and empty supermarket shelves across the nation. The scarcity of eggs is expected to drive up prices, impacting the millions of South Africans who rely on eggs as an affordable source of protein. This situation has also affected retailers, farms, and industry giants, exacerbating the challenges they already face due to rising costs and an electricity crisis.

To curb the spread of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, farmers have culled over seven million egg-laying chickens, which accounts for 20-30% of the country’s total chicken stock. As a result, social media has been flooded with images of bare supermarket shelves, and many shoppers have encountered purchase limits on the remaining eggs. Even online shopping sites are struggling to meet the demand, leaving consumers disappointed with “unavailable” or “low in stock” messages.

The shortage of eggs has particularly impacted those living in poverty, such as domestic worker Nomalanga Moyo, who relies on buying eggs to make muffins for her children’s lunchboxes. Moyo normally shops at a spaza shop in her township, where she can purchase just two eggs for a low price. However, this week, even the spaza shop had run out of eggs, forcing her to wait until she goes to work during the week to find eggs at regular stores, but at a higher cost.

With over half of South Africans living below the poverty line, the increase in egg prices will hit their budgets hard. The rising cost will not only affect consumers but will also impact all food products that use eggs and poultry products, warned the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity research group.

The bird flu outbreak has also taken a toll on businesses. Astral Foods, the leading poultry producer in South Africa, reported a cost of $11.5 million due to the outbreak. The flu has spread rapidly, devastating the poultry industry. Small businesses, which are less resilient to market shocks, have also expressed concerns. Bakery owner Zamapholoba Ngcobo shared her struggle to find affordable eggs after using three for a client’s order. The shortage has hit at a crucial time, as cake orders are at an all-time high during wedding and graduation season.

While some are suffering from the egg shortage, there are a few winners in this situation. Ukulinga, a poultry farm in KwaZulu-Natal province, implemented strict biosecurity measures after hearing about flu outbreaks in Brazil and Argentina. As a result, their farm remains free from bird flu, attracting customers seeking safe poultry products. The farm has experienced increased demand and is currently supplying 130,000 eggs weekly to local businesses.

Farmers and industry experts estimate that it will take six months for the poultry sector to replace the culled chickens. This means that the shortage of poultry products, including eggs, could extend into the festive season and even into 2024. The outbreak has presented new challenges since it involves an unfamiliar strain.

The impact of the bird flu outbreak has not been limited to South Africa alone. Namibia, which heavily relies on poultry imports from South Africa, has banned such imports due to the outbreak. South Africa’s government is considering purchasing bird flu vaccines to restore confidence in the poultry industry. Officials have also emphasized that chicken products on supermarket shelves are safe for consumption, providing some reassurance to South Africans lucky enough to find eggs.

AI legalese decoder can play a significant role in this situation. By using AI technology, it can help farmers, retailers, and industry experts in navigating the legal complexities that arise from the bird flu outbreak. It can provide real-time updates on regulations, trade restrictions, and guidelines pertaining to the poultry sector. Additionally, the AI legalese decoder can assist in drafting contracts, analyzing insurance policies, and understanding legal obligations to mitigate the financial impact on businesses. With its ability to process vast amounts of data and provide accurate legal insights, the AI legalese decoder can be an invaluable tool in managing the challenges brought about by the bird flu outbreak in South Africa.

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