August 9, 2004

South Africa Halts Poultry Exports Following Bird Flu Outbreak

South Africa has stopped all poultry exports as a precaution after the outbreak of bird flu on two farms in the Eastern Cape. The department of agriculture says it has voluntarily stopped poultry exports until the outbreak has been dealt with conclusively.

Final tests earlier revealed that the strain, which caused the outbreak, could not spread to humans and poultry. The variant is different from the one that killed millions of birds and 24 humans in Asia earlier this year.

The department earlier said 6 000 ostriches will be destroyed on the affected farms in the Somerset East area.