Avian Influenza Response

Background

High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI or “bird flu”) is a viral disease of birds that can, on rare occasions, infect humans and mammals. The disease can cause high mortality rates in domestic poultry, and severe economic losses, and has also become a threat to wild bird populations. South Africa recorded at least 7500 deaths in seabirds in 2018, due to the clade 2.3.4.4b H5N8 virus, and nearly 25 000 deaths in 2021 and 2022, due to the clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 virus. Swift (Greater Crested) Terns were worst affected in 2018 and Endangered Cape Cormorants in 2021 and 2022, but at least 1000 Critically Endangered African Penguins have also died from the disease in Namibia and South Africa. In July 2025, there were increasing reports of sick and dead Hartlaub’s Gulls and laboratory confirmation of infection in Hartlaub’s Gulls and Great White Pelicans in the Western Cape. Worldwide, except for Oceania but including Antarctica, mass mortalities have been reported in colony-breeding seabirds and other wild bird species since 2021, some with population-level effects.

Monitoring of HPAI outbreaks is necessary to learn about the disease and monitor its progress. However, bird populations, and seabirds in particular, are already facing a variety of challenges including pollution, climate change, lack of breeding space and food scarcity. The effects of disease should be separated from other pressures, to ensure that conservation efforts continue to be correctly applied.

The OCIMS South African Seabird Bird Flu Reporting Tool has been created to allow efficient and widespread reporting of HPAI cases in seabirds and to communicate the results clearly. Anyone finding a sick or dead seabird is requested to report via the web form or app. Live seabirds can also be reported to a seabird rehabilitation centre.

There have been cases of HPAI H5N1 infections in humans and pets overseas, though in small numbers so, although the risk is low, please avoid touching sick and dead birds and keep your pets away from them too.