At least nine critically endangered wild African Penguins have now died from bird flu. The outbreak of the disease, also called high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) has already killed over 1000 South African seabirds since July. HPAI affects the brain leading to unusual behaviour, twitches and seizures. Although HPAI occasionally infects mammals and humans, the risk to the public remains low if basic precautions are followed. Members of the public are encouraged not to touch sick or dead birds and to report them to the authorities.
Figure 1: An African Penguin suffering from HPAI
Figure 2: A Hartlaub’s Gull that died from HPAI
Since 2018 over 1000 Critically Endangered African Penguins have died from HPAI. When a new outbreak of this devastating disease started to affect seabirds in the Western Cape in July, it was clear that there was a threat to all our endangered seabirds, especially the African Penguin, the most endangered of all penguin species. Twenty-six suspected cases of HPAI in African Penguins have been reported. Of these nine have been confirmed by PCR lab testing, these penguins were found at Boulder’s Beach, Gordon’s Bay, Rooi Els and Strandfontein in False Bay; Blaawberg and Yzerfontein on the West Coast and Arniston in the Overberg between the 21st of September and the 24th of October
Figure 3: The locations where suspected cases of HPAI in African Penguins have been found. PCR testing confirmed HPAI fom birds found at Boulder’s Beach, Gordon’s Bay, Rooi Els and Strandfontein in False Bay; Blaawberg and Yzerfontein on the West Coast and Arniston in the Overberg. (DFFE – Seabird Avian Influenza Reporting Dashboard)
Over 1400 other seabirds have already died from this disease in 2025. The most severely affected species have been Common Terns and Hartlaub’s Gulls. Cases have also been reported in Great White Pelicans, Grey-headed Gulls, Kelp gulls, White-breasted cormorants, Crowned Cormorants and Sacred Ibises. Domestic chickens and ducks have also been affected.
A dashboard with up-to-date information on the outbreak can be found online by following this link: https://dea-surveys.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/608a9c99f45c4be38bd7240cd853c113
Figure 4: Locations where affected wild sea birds have been found this year until the 2nd of December 2025 (DFFE – Seabird Avian Influenza Reporting Dashboard)
SANCCOB has played a leading role in response to this crisis. Our priorities are: keeping our seabird hospitals safe from infection, supporting conservation authorities, monitoring the impact on wild birds, and ensuring good animal welfare.
Figure 5: One of SANCCOB’s high biosecurity quarantine containers used to house newly admitted birds until they are tested for HPAI.
SANCCOB is working with State Veterinary Services and conservation authorities to monitor the spread of the disease. We collect information from the public about any seabirds that are affected to assist with surveillance. Members of the public can report cases to SANCCOB or fill in this online form: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/d5791b63ab65422ead648e64bff3238d
At SANCCOB’s rehabilitation centres we have increased our biosecurity to ensure the safety of the birds in our care. All new patients are kept in quarantine (Figure 5) until a negative PCR test has shown that they are free from HPAI. We cannot treat any birds with disease, instead we are working with local veterinary practices to ensure that any birds that are suffering from HPAI are humanely euthanised.
SANCCOB has been actively training veterinarians, seabird rangers, rehabilitators and first responders on how to respond safely and appropriately to this outbreak and we are supplying first responders and rangers with protective clothing and biosecurity equipment.
Figure 6: Biosecurity equipment and protective clothing for first responders and rangers
Figure 7: A seabird ranger in full protective clothing responding to an outbreak in a gull colony
To learn more about this disease read SANCCOB’s HPAI frequently asked questions and answers here:
Official Department of Forestry Fisheries and the Environment website on HPAI in wild birds: https://ocims.environment.gov.za/AvianInfluenza.html
Read SANCCOB’s other articles about HPAI:
https://sanccob.co.za/news/sanccob-reinforces-biosecurity-measures-amid-avian-influenza-threat-to-seabirds/ (November 2025)
https://sanccob.co.za/news/high-pathogenicity-avian-influenza-hpaioutbreak-in-south-african-seabirds-2025/ (August 2025)
https://sanccob.co.za/news/highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-bird-flu-outbreak-at-sanccob-cape-town/ (November 2022)
https://sanccob.co.za/news/suspected-avian-influenza-hpai-outbreak-along-the-coast-of-the-western-cape/ (October 2021)
https://sanccob.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025.11.10-HPAI-FAQs.pdf (November 2025)
