DISEASE MANAGEMENT IN POULTRY: EXPERT GUIDE TO NEWCASTLE, BIRD FLU, AND BIOSECURITY IN ZIMBABWE

By The Agriculture Desk
May 2026

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Zimbabwe’s poultry industry is booming, with production up 35% in five years. Farmers are scaling operations while buyers are ordering in bulk. But then disease strikes, and one sick bird becomes a dead flock. Next, one infected farm becomes an outbreak and the outbreak soon turns into a regional crisis. This is why disease management in poultry isn’t optional; it’s existential.

We spoke with veterinarians from Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Agriculture, commercial farm managers, research scientists, and successful smallholder farmers who’ve navigated disease outbreaks. Their insights form the foundation of this guide. More importantly, their experience offers a roadmap to success and sustainability.

Farmers can run a profitable poultry operation in Zimbabwe while minimizing disease risk. They just need to understand threat, implement proven strategies, and stay disciplined about biosecurity. This is the article every farmer needs to read. This is also where people will turn during disease outbreaks—when reliable information is scarce.

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THE POULTRY DISEASE LANDSCAPE IN ZIMBABWE

Different diseases come with a variety of economic impacts and demand different control strategies. Also, coping with each type of infection requires a distinct level of farmer knowledge. The good news is that with proper management, the diseases are controllable and preventable. Zimbabwe’s poultry sector faces four major threats:

1. Newcastle Disease – The primary killer of smallholder flocks
2. Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) – Emerging threat with regional spread potential
3. Coccidiosis and parasites – Chronic productivity drains
4. Bacterial infections (E. coli, Salmonella) – Food safety and health threats

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NEWCASTLE DISEASE: THE SMALLHOLDER FARMER’S BIGGEST THREAT

Newcastle Disease is the most significant poultry killer in Zimbabwe but it’s also the most preventable.

What is Newcastle Disease?

Newcastle Disease (ND) is a viral infection caused by the paramyxovirus. It’s highly contagious—spreads through direct contact with infected birds, contaminated equipment, feed, water, and even on a farmer’s shoes or clothing.

“Newcastle is like the flu,” explains Dr. Tendai Mupaka, a veterinarian at Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Agriculture. “Once it gets into a flock, it spreads fast. The difference is: there’s a vaccine that works. Farmers just have to use it.”

ND Symptoms Every Farmer Must Recognize

Newcastle Disease symptoms appear 3-7 days after exposure. The speed is what kills the farmer emotionally and financially. One day, you have a functioning farm. 72 hours later, your birds are dying. By the end of the week, the flock is devastated. Early recognition saves lives.

Now, while the mortality timeline in unvaccinated flocks is 50 – 100% in 7 -14 days, vaccinated chickens have minimal mortality and reduced severity. The chart below displays early and advanced signs of the disease.

Early Signs:

Lack of appetite and reduced water intake

Ruffled, depressed-looking feathers

Huddling together (birds seeking warmth and comfort)

Sudden drop in egg production (in layers)

Greenish diarrhea

Nasal discharge and coughing

Advanced Signs:

Twisted neck (torticollis) – the virus damages the nervous system

Paralysis of legs and wings

Loss of coordination and balance

Severe depression

How Newcastle Spreads

Biosecurity is very important because Newcastle is always waiting for a pathway. The disease doesn’t need an exotic vector (a foreign insect or animal that can transmit infections between birds). It spreads through ordinary farm activities such as;

• Direct bird-to-bird contact – The primary route
• Contaminated equipment – Feed scoops, water troughs, netting that touch infected birds
• Farmer’s shoes and clothing – Walking from an infected farm to yours
• Shared equipment rental – Using another farmer’s transport or containers
• Visitors – Family, neighbors, customers who visit infected farms then yours
• Feed and water sources – If not cleaned between farms
• Dead birds – Improper disposal spreads virus to scavengers and soil
• Air – Over short distances, especially in poorly ventilated housing

ND Vaccination: The Prevention That Works

Newcastle immunization is highly effective. However, it’s also misunderstood, inconsistently applied, and sometimes abandoned by farmers who get complacent. You can follow the vaccination schedules below to protect your chickens at various stages of growth.

Vaccination schedules for broilers (meat chickens)

Stage	Vaccine	Cost	Benefits
Day-old (hatchery)	Inactivated ND vaccine	$0.05 – 0.10 per chick	Provides early protection
Week 2	Live ND vaccine (oral or spray)	$0.03 – 0.05 per bird	Boosts immunity
Week 4	Optional second live dose	$0.03 – 0.05	Boosts immunity

Vaccination schedules for layers (egg-laying chickens)

Stage	Vaccine
Day-old	Inactivated ND vaccine
Week 2	Live ND vaccine
Week 6-8	Second live vaccine
Week 16-18 (Pre-laying)	Inactivated ND boosted

Critical vaccination factors for Newcastle Disease

Cold chain management

Live ND vaccines are fragile. If exposed to heat, they die and become useless. Transportation and storage at 2-8°C is non-negotiable.

“I’ve seen farmers buy expensive vaccines, transport them in the sun in a plastic bag, then wonder why they don’t work,” says a Harare commercial farm manager. “The vaccine dies. The birds stay vulnerable. Then disease hits and they blame the vaccine instead of the process.”

Vaccine quality

Always buy from registered suppliers only because Counterfeit vaccines are worthless.

Proper administration

Spray or oral administration must reach all birds. Spillage or uneven coverage means some birds remain unprotected.

Timing

Vaccines must be given on schedule. Missing a booster leaves a vulnerability window.

Mixed flocks

If you’re mixing birds of different ages (common in backyard settings), vaccination becomes complex. Vaccination intervals may conflict. Professional farmers keep age-separated flocks specifically for disease management.

Economic Impact of Newcastle Outbreaks

Farmers should take vaccination seriously to avert the grave financial devastation. Consider the scenarios below and how immunization preserves profitability.

Scenario 1: 500-bird operation without vaccines

Suppose you’re running a 500-bird broiler operation without vaccination. You could spend $500 on the birds ($1 per chick) and spend $1,500 on feed and management. The total investment is $2,000. If a Newcastle outbreak kills 450+, you would only get $100 to $200 from the surviving flock. This gives you a loss of $1,800 to $1,900.

Scenario 2: 500-bird operation with vaccines

In Scenario 2, you buy the birds for $500, spend $1500 on feed and management, and then get vaccination for $80. This brings your total investment to $2,080. The immunization lowers the mortality rate to just 5-10%. Your revenue from the 450+ survivors is between $3,600 and $4,500, giving you a net profit of $1,500. The Return on investment (ROI) on vaccination is 40:1. You spend an additional $80 to save $1,800.

“Newcastle is a choice,” says Dr. Mupaka. “You choose to vaccinate and lose 5 birds to disease. Or you choose not to and lose 450. The choice is obvious—but somehow farmers still make the wrong one.”

Newcastle: When It Happens Anyway

Vaccinated birds occasionally still get infected. This is called breakthrough-infection. Purchasing cheap imitation products or failing to transport live ND vaccines at consistent temperatures (cold chain breaks) are some of the main factors why immunization fails.

An ND infection can still break through if there is massive viral exposure. This is when the virus levels are so high that the bird’s immunity is overwhelmed. And poor nutrition or concurrent disease reduces vaccine effectiveness.

What to do if ND is Confirmed

Here are some measures to take when your flock is hit by Newcastle Disease.

1. Isolate the flock – No visitors, no movement of birds
2. Inform authorities – Ministry of Agriculture needs to know
3. Clean and disinfect – All surfaces, equipment, feed troughs
4. Dead bird disposal – Bury deeply or incinerate (never leave exposed)
5. Quarantine period – Typically 3-4 weeks after last death before restocking

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AVIAN INFLUENZA (BIRD FLU): THE EMERGING THREAT EVERY FARMER NEEDS TO MONITOR

Bird Flu is fundamentally different from Newcastle. It’s less common in Zimbabwe currently, but the regional spread of High-Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) means that farmers need to be vigilant.

What Is Avian Influenza?

Avian Influenza is caused by Influenza A viruses. There are low-pathogenicity strains (LPAI) and high-pathogenicity strains (HPAI). The latter is a major concern as it spreads rapidly through flocks and has high mortality. The fact that it can also infect humans makes the disease a global public health threat.

Current Bird Flu Situation in Zimbabwe

“As of 2026, Zimbabwe hasn’t had a confirmed HPAI outbreak in commercial poultry,” explains a government veterinarian. “But neighboring countries have. Mozambique, South Africa, and Zambia have had cases. We’re monitoring closely.”

Regional Context

If South Africa has experienced HPAI outbreaks, migratory birds can carry the virus across borders. Therefore, the risk for Zimbabwe isn’t theoretical, it’s real.

Symptoms of Avian Influenza

HPAI is more acutely severe than Newcastle. Mortality is often 90-100% in unvaccinated flocks. Deaths happen fast. HPAI symptoms appear 1-3 days after infection. Here is a list of Bird Flu indicators.

• Sudden death (sometimes before other symptoms appear)
• Severe respiratory signs (coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge)
• Swelling of head, face, eyelids, comb, and wattles
• Purple discoloration of wattles, combs, and legs
• Nasal discharge
• Lack of appetite
• Drop in or cessation of egg production (in layers)
• Soft-shelled or misshapen eggs
• Diarrhea
• Lack of coordination, tremors, and twisted neck (neurological signs)
• Death within 24-48 hours in many cases

Transmission Routes for Avian Influenza

HPAI spreads through:

• Infected birds – Direct contact
• Contaminated equipment and feed
• Contaminated water sources
• Migratory birds and wild waterfowl – Can be asymptomatic carriers
• Shared transport and equipment
• Farm workers and visitors – On clothing and shoes
• Inadequate biosecurity – The primary risk factor

Bird Flu Surveillance and Early Warning

Zimbabwe’s government maintains surveillance for HPAI, but early detection depends on farmers reporting suspected cases. You can take the steps below to report suspected cases.

What to report:

• Sudden, unexplained high mortality in your flock
• Severe clinical signs matching HPAI description
• Any suspected illness in your birds

Who to report to:

• Your district veterinary office
• Ministry of Agriculture hotline (if one exists)
• Veterinary laboratories

Why reporting matters:

• Early detection prevents spread
• Regional control depends on rapid identification
• Government needs surveillance data to maintain trade status
• Your neighbors depend on you reporting

“There’s reluctance to report illness because farmers fear their entire flock will be culled,” acknowledges a veterinary official. “But not reporting risks regional outbreak and trade restrictions that hurt everyone. The whole sector suffers from one farmer’s silence.”

Avian Influenza Prevention (currently without a vaccine)

Unlike Newcastle, there’s no widely-used HPAI vaccine in Zimbabwe currently. Prevention relies entirely on biosecurity. Here is an HPAI prevention strategy:

1. Separate from wild birds – Avoid contact with wild waterfowl
2. Control water sources – Don’t use open ponds or water sources where wild birds drink
3. Perimeter security – Keep wild birds out of poultry areas
4. Biosecurity protocols – Insist on strict hand-washing, shoe covers, equipment cleaning
5. Monitor water quality – HPAI virus can survive in water
6. Dead bird handling – Proper disposal to prevent scavenger spread
7. Avoid live bird markets – Where HPAI often clusters
8. Quarantine new birds – Before introducing to main flock

Economic Impact of HPAI

An HPAI outbreak in Zimbabwe would be financially catastrophic – worse than Newcastle because there’s no Bird Flu vaccine and mortality is higher. Additionally, during outbreaks farmers face trade restrictions, export bans, and reduced market prices.

You would have to cull affected flocks (as mandated by government) without compensation. On top of that, you have to cover the cleanup and disinfection costs.

HPAI Vaccines: What’s Coming?

“There’s research on HPAI vaccines,” explains a research scientist. “Vector vaccines that can differentiate infected from vaccinated birds. These might become available in coming years. But currently, prevention through biosecurity is our only tool.”

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COCCIDIOSIS AND PARASITES: THE SILENT PRODUCTIVITY DRAIN

Newcastle and HPAI are dramatic. Well, Coccidiosis is chronic, quiet, and economically significant in ways many farmers don’t fully appreciate.

What Is Coccidiosis?

Coccidiosis is an intestinal infection caused by protozoan parasites (Eimeria species). It’s endemic in poultry operations worldwide. Nearly every flock is exposed.

Coccidiosis doesn’t always kill birds outright. Instead, the infection damages the intestinal lining, reducing nutrient absorption. Therefore, birds may survive but they’ll fail to thrive.

Economic Impact of Coccidiosis: The Hidden Cost

A coccidiosis-infected flock that doesn’t die still loses profitability. Birds eat more to gain the same weight, which means that the feed conversion ratio is low. Growth rate slows as infected birds take longer to reach market weight. Costs generally increase since you have to feed birds longer and pay for medications. All the while, mortality jumps from 2 to 5% or higher.

Example to show the financial drain from Coccidiosis

Let’s say you are running a 500-bird broiler operation. In the following table, you’ll see how the feed conversion ratio, growth time, and revenue look like with and without coccidiosis. The decline happens silently. The farmer neither sees a disease outbreak nor realizes the problem.

	Without coccidiosis	With moderate coccidiosis
Feed conversion ratio	1.8kg feed per 1kg bird weight	2kg feed per 1kg bird weight
Growth time	42 days to 2.2kg (market weight)	50 days to 2.0 kg
Mortality	2%	5%
Surviving birds	490	475
Revenue	$3,920	$2,850 (Profit loss: $1,070  – 27% reduction)

Symptoms of Coccidiosis

Here is a list of coccidiosis symptoms as the infection intensifies.

Early symptoms

Ruffled feathers

Huddling

Reduced appetite

Watery diarrhea (often bloody, hence “bloody scours”)

Weight loss or stunted growth

Advanced symptoms

Severe diarrhea with visible blood

Weakness and immobility

High mortality in severe cases

Poor flock uniformity (some birds affected more than others)

Coccidiosis Prevention: The Real Strategy

Unlike Newcastle, which you can manage using vaccines, or HPAI, where biosecurity is the only preventive method, coccidiosis can be controlled using multiple approaches.

1. Coccidiostat Medication in Feed

Most commercial broiler feeds contain coccidiostats—medications that suppress coccidial replication.

“They don’t prevent infection. They control it to prevent disease,” explains a feed nutritionist. “Birds are still exposed, but medication prevents outbreak-level severity.”

Types of coccidiostats:

Ionophores such as Monensin, Narasin, and Lasalocid are the most common coccidiostats. You can also use Non-ionphore alternatives when resistance develops. Anticoccidial drugs (sulfas) are effective for treatment, not prevention.

Coccidiostat-medicated feed only costs $0.05-0.10 per bird more than unmedicated feed. However one limitation is that using the same medicated feed builds coccidial resistance over time. Rotation of different coccidiostats prevents this.

2. Live Coccidial Vaccine

Some operations use live coccidial vaccines, exposing birds to controlled doses of live Eimeria to build immunity. This requires a controlled housing environment. Farmers also need to manage clinical diseases during immunity building. Vaccine and management costs often exceed that of coccidiostats.

“You’re deliberately infecting birds with a mild exposure to build natural immunity,” explains a commercial farm manager. “It takes more management than medicated feed, but resistance doesn’t develop.”

3. Coccidiosis Management Strategies

Farmers may take the following control measures to keep infections out.

• Ensure litter is clean and dry. Coccidian oocysts multiply in wet litter.
• Remove litter to stop buildup of contamination
• Clean up regularly, between flocks
• Make sure there’s adequate ventilation. Dry environment suppresses coccidiosis
• Manage stocking density because overcrowding increases coccidial exposure
• Maintain feed and water hygiene to prevent contamination

Treatment When Coccidiosis Breaks Out

If coccidiosis overwhelms your prevention, there are several steps you can take to combat the disease. For a mild outbreak, improve ventilation and litter quality. You should also add treatment (sulfas) to drinking water and ensure consistent and quality feed. The cost of water medications ranges from $50 – 100 for 500 birds.

However, in severe outbreaks, you need veterinary intervention. You may have to do flock culling if the outbreak is extreme. Complete litter removal and cleaning is necessary. You’d need 3-4 weeks to recover before restocking.

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PARASITES: THE SECONDARY THREAT

Beyond coccidiosis, there are several parasites that can attack poultry.

Internal Parasites

Ascaris and other roundworms reduce growth and cause mortality in numbers. Then there are tapeworms, which are less common in intensive systems but more common in extensive systems.

External Parasites

Common external parasites include mites, lice, and ectoparasites. Mites cause anemia, irritation, and disease stress. Lice bring about skin irritation and reduced performance, while ectoparasites cause general stress and disease predisposition.

Parasite Management

To prevent parasites, farmers should practice biosecurity (for external parasites), clean housing and equipment, as well as manage litter properly. Good hygiene for farm worker is also important.

Treatment (when needed)

You can use Antiparasitic medications, which are often combined with coccidiat treatments. The costs are between $0.05 and $0.15 per bird and the treatment takes 3 to 5 days.

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BIOSECURITY FUNDAMENTALS: THE FOUNDATION OF DISEASE PREVENTION

Biosecurity is the most important tool every farmer can use. It costs little and prevents most problems, but it requires discipline.

What Is Biosecurity?

Biosecurity is the set of practices that prevent disease introduction and spread. It’s not complicated; you just have to be consistent.

“Biosecurity is like washing your hands,” says Dr. Mupaka. “It’s simple, it’s free, but most people don’t do it right. And then they get sick.”

Key Biosecurity Practices

1. Separation of Age Groups

At different ages, birds have different disease susceptibilities. Mixing ages dramatically increases disease risk. Young birds are particularly susceptible to Newcastle and HPAI. Older birds may be immune. Mixing means older birds expose younger, vulnerable ones. The challenge is that many backyard farmers continuously add birds to existing flocks. Always follow these procedures:

• Keep broilers (meat birds) by age—all birds within 2-3 days of hatch age
• Separate from layers or breeding birds
• Never introduce new birds directly to existing flocks

2. Hygiene Protocols

The importance of personal hygiene and equipment cleanliness can never be overstated. The practices outlined in the table below go a long way in terms of poultry diseases control.

Personal Hygiene	1.Wash hands before entering poultry area 2. Wash hands between farms 3.Change clothes or wear dedicated farm clothes 4.Wear dedicated shoes (don’t walk from infected farm to clean farm in same shoes)
Equipment Hygiene	1. Don’t share feed scoops, buckets, or equipment between farms 2. Clean and disinfect all equipment between batches 3. Disinfectant: Bleach solution (1:10 dilution) or commercial disinfectants 4. Dedicated equipment for each farm (if running multiple)
Housing Hygiene	1. Clean housing between flocks 2. Remove all old litter 3. Disinfect walls, roof, equipment 4. Leave empty for 1-2 weeks before restocking
Feed and Water Hygiene	1. Use clean feed containers 2. Don’t reuse bags from other farms 3. Clean water troughs regularly 4. Prevent water contamination from wild bird droppings

3. Visitor Management

Visitors are the most common disease vector for backyard farmers. You have to enforce strict rules even with family members.

• Anyone who’s been to another farm shouldn’t enter yours the same day
• Limit visitors’ access to poultry areas
• Require shoe covers or dedicated shoes
• No touching birds without permission
• No equipment from other farms

Disposing of Dead Birds

Dead birds are disease vectors and improper disposal spreads infection. There are three suitable options to dispose of the carcasses.

Option 1: Burial

Bury the bird at least 1 meter deep, away from water sources. Cover with soil and minimize wild bird access.

Option 2: Incineration

Burn the carcasses completely. This requires significant heat. Do it safely, ensuring that there is no spread from smoke.

Option 3: Deep pit

Dig deep pit and line it with lime. Add dead birds regularly, covering between additions.

Never do this:

Do not leave dead birds exposed or in shallow graves where dogs and wild animals can dig them up. Never dump the birds in water sources. And do not burn incompletely. Ashes and bits remain infectious.

Biosecurity for Backyard and Small-Scale Farmers

Large commercial farms have formal biosecurity programs. The honest truth is that complete biosecurity for a backyard farmer keeping 50 birds in the neighborhood is impossible. But the practices below significantly reduce risk.

• Report illness – Don’t hide problems hoping they’ll resolve
• Keep birds separate by age – Even in backyard, this is doable with multiple areas/structures
• Don’t visit other farms then return same day – If you must visit, change clothes and shoes
• Clean equipment between batches – Even simple rinse and bleach helps
• Dead bird disposal – Bury properly, every time
• Limit visitors – Or at minimum don’t let them touch birds
• Monitor health closely – Early detection of disease

Biosecurity Costs

Real talk: proper biosecurity is cheaper than the costs that come with a disease outbreak. As you’ll see in the table below, ROI on biosecurity is infinite as it prevents catastrophic loss.

Biosecurity activity	Cost
Hand washing	Hand washing
Dedicated shoes	$10-20 once
Bleach for disinfection	$2-3 per liter
Lime for disposal	$5-10
Protective equipment (gloves, masks	$5-10
Total investment for backyard operation	$30-50 one-time
Potential cost of one Newcastle outbreak (if biosecurity is neglected)	Up to $1,800-2,000

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EXPERT INSIGHTS: WHAT VETERINARIANS, SCIENTISTS, AND FARMERS KNOW

We interviewed five poultry disease experts in Zimbabwe. And they shared their invaluable insights.

Dr. Tendai Mupaka, Ministry of Agriculture Veterinarian

“The farmers I work with either get disease management or they don’t. The ones who vaccinate Newcastle properly, maintain biosecurity, and report disease—they stay profitable. The ones who cut corners on vaccination, don’t care about biosecurity, and hide disease outbreaks—they eventually fail. It’s that simple.

The biggest mistake is complacency. A farmer vaccinates for two years with no disease, thinks the vaccine is unnecessary expense, skips it, and gets hit hard. Newcastle is still here. It’s waiting.”

Dr. Chikaodili Okonkwo, Poultry Research Scientist

“Zimbabwe’s poultry sector has growth potential, but it’s fragile to disease. We’re producing 90 million birds annually. A significant HPAI outbreak would devastate that. Our surveillance needs to be stronger. Farmers need better training. And we need to invest in vaccine production capacity locally if HPAI vaccines become critical.

Right now, our advantage is that HPAI hasn’t arrived. That advantage could disappear quickly. We should use this time to build capacity.”

David Masvaure, Commercial Broiler Farm Manager (400,000+ birds annually)

“At scale, disease management is infrastructure. We have vaccination schedules set to the day. We have biosecurity protocols that employees follow religiously. We have veterinary oversight. We have contingency plans for outbreaks.

For small farmers without this infrastructure, the risk is real. But they can get 80% of the way there with discipline and following basic protocols. The ones who fail are the ones who think they’re too small for disease management to matter.”

Faith Ncube, Smallholder Farmer (300-bird operation, Bulawayo)

“I lost 250 birds to Newcastle in 2023 because I didn’t vaccinate properly. I bought cheap vaccine, didn’t store it right, and thought my birds would be fine. They weren’t.

Now I vaccinate on schedule, I buy quality vaccine from a known supplier, I keep it cold, and I’m careful about visitors. It costs maybe $30 more per batch. But after losing $1,500 to Newcastle, $30 is nothing.

The thing that surprised me: it’s not hard to do it right. It’s just not forgiving if you do it wrong.”

Thomas Chikwature, Event Caterer & Bulk Chicken Buyer

“I buy 200-300 chickens per month for events. I care about consistent quality and food safety. I’ve learned to work with farms that have proper records, maintain biosecurity, and are transparent about their practices.

When I buy from farms without hygiene standards, I worry about my customers’ health. It’s not just about getting cheap chicken—it’s about trust. Disease management is part of that trust equation.”

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WHEN TO CALL A VETERINARIAN

Calling the veterinarian is worth every penny when it prevents flock loss. In Harare and Bulawayo, vets can charge $100-200 per farm call for consultations of 1-2 hours. Sample testing goes for $50-150. Not every bird illness needs veterinary intervention. But these situations do:

• Unusual mortality – More than 1% daily mortality, sudden increase
• Suspected Newcastle or HPAI – Don’t wait for confirmation, call immediately
• Diarrhea outbreaks – Especially with blood
• Respiratory disease – Coughing, nasal discharge affecting multiple birds
• Paralysis or neurological signs – Twisted necks, inability to walk
• Unexplained production drop – Layers suddenly stop laying
• Skin or eye problems – Swelling, discharge affecting multiple birds

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DISEASE MANAGEMENT TIMELINE: WHAT FARMERS SHOULD DO NOW

Here is a comprehensive list of actions that you can take and device an effective poultry disease control system.

Time	Action
Immediately	1. Verify vaccination status by checking your birds’ vaccination history 2. Assess biosecurity. Are your practices adequate? 3. Identify a veterinary contact. Know who to call if disease appears 4. Plan dead bird disposal and have a protocol ready
This Month	1.Review vaccination schedules to ensure you’re vaccinating on time 2. Source vaccines properly – From registered suppliers with cold chain 3. Train household/employees – On biosecurity protocols 4. Set visitor rules – Communicate expectations to family/neighbors
This Quarter	1. Clean and disinfect housing – Between batches, thoroughly 2. Review feed quality – Ensure you’re using coccidiostat-medicated feed if appropriate 3. Establish record-keeping – Track vaccination, mortality, treatments 4. Connect with other farmers – Share knowledge, watch for disease in community

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REGIONAL NEWS & SURVEILLANCE

HPAI Bird Flu has not reached Zimbabwe but it is already in the region. Early detection is possible if all farmers report disease outbreaks and suspicious events.

Current situation (as of May 2026):

• Zimbabwe: No confirmed HPAI in poultry. Newcastle remains endemic.
• Mozambique: HPAI detected in poultry in 2024. Ongoing surveillance.
• South Africa: HPAI outbreaks in commercial and backyard flocks. Active surveillance.
• Zambia: Disease monitoring ongoing. No recent confirmed cases.
• Botswana: Limited poultry disease reporting. Smaller sector.

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WHERE TO LEARN MORE

For more detailed information on specific diseases and prevention, read:

• [ARTICLE ON NEWCASTLE DISEASE] – Deep dive into Newcastle: history in Zimbabwe, detailed vaccination protocols, outbreak response plans
• [ARTICLE ON AVIAN INFLUENZA IN ZIMBABWE] – Complete guide to HPAI risk, surveillance, prevention without vaccines
• [ARTICLE ON COCCIDIOSIS MANAGEMENT] – Detailed strategies for coccidiostat use, vaccine approaches, economic analysis
• [ARTICLE ON BIOSECURITY PROTOCOLS] – Step-by-step biosecurity guide for backyard, small-scale, and commercial operations
• [ARTICLE ON WORKING WITH VETERINARIANS] – How to find quality veterinary care, what to expect, cost management

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THE BOTTOM LINE

Disease control in poultry isn’t theoretical. It’s the difference between a profitable operation and a catastrophic loss. The farmers succeeding right now are the ones who understand that disease isn’t an accident but a management issue. For instance, Newcastle Disease is preventable through vaccination. You choose to protect your birds or not.

Bird Flu (HPAI strain) is a regional threat that could arrive at any time. Zimbabwean farmers can build resilience through biosecurity and vigilance now. Coccidiosis is a silent but costly attacker. However, through good feed choices, you can achieve market weight in good time and build great profit. You can avoid parasites by enforcing strict hygiene.

In a nutshell, you can build a sustainable poultry operation in Zimbabwe by vaccinating on time, maintaining biosecurity discipline, and monitoring your birds closely. As part of an efficient poultry disease management system, you should also keep records and report unusual illnesses to the authorities. Stay connected to other farmers and veterinary experts. And check out other articles on our sites for more information.

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This article synthesizes guidance from Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Agriculture, commercial farm managers, research scientists, and experienced smallholder farmers. Disease situations change—always consult local veterinary authorities for current guidance specific to your area.

For urgent disease concerns, contact your local Ministry of Agriculture office or a licensed veterinarian immediately.