Namibia has has announced the suspension of importations of live poultry and poultry products from South Africa because of a severe bird flu outbreak.
The suspension was prompted by the “alarming spread” of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in South Africa, Namibia’s agricultural ministry said.
“New cases have been reported in all types of commercial chicken [production] in the provinces of Kwazulu-Natal, Western Cape, Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West respectively,” it posted on Facebook.
It is reported that more than two million chickens have died so far in the outbreak.
The Namibian Ministry of Agriculture, Water & Land Reform has specified that the suspension covers:
- Live poultry
- “Fresh frozen” poultry meat
- Table eggs
- Day old chicks and hatching eggs