An avian flu outbreak was reported at a care farm in Middelie, where about 150 chickens were culled. A ban on transporting birds, eggs and bird manure was imposed within a 10-kilometre radius. Poultry farms must keep their animals indoors, while hobby farmers and petting zoos must protect their birds.

Farmers in the area said they were taking precautions, with migratory birds seen as the main risk. A veterinarian from nearby Oosthuizen said the chance of the virus spreading between poultry farms in the region was relatively small because there are few such farms. Some care farms had already stopped keeping chickens or reduced their numbers after earlier outbreaks, including one farm where more than 250 chickens, ducks and turkeys were culled in November 2025.