July 13, 2007

South Africa bans German poultry imports

South Africa has banned the import of poultry products from Germany after an outbreak of the H5N1 subtype virus in Thuringen, Germany, authorities said on Thursday (Jul 12).

The department of agriculture banned all live poultry, birds, meat and other products derived from poultry and birds, from Germany.

Priscilla Tsotso Sehoole said only poultry products sufficiently proven by international standards to contain no possibility of carrying the virus are excluded from the suspension.

South Africa has had an extensive surveillance programme in place since 2005.

In Germany, the affected farm and its surrounding areas were put under quarantine and more than 1 000 domestic birds within a 3km radius of the outbreak were culled.