Botswana halts poultry imports from South Africa after bird flu cases
Botswana has banned the import of poultry meat and products from South Africa after an outbreak of bird flu was detected on a layer farm in South Africa.
15 April 2021
3 minute read
By: Reuters reports that the commercial layer farm, located in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg in South Africa tested positive for the H5 strain of avian influenza on 13 April. 300 birds had died at the farm.
“As a result, the import of domesticated and wild birds, their products (meat, eggs and feathers), from South Africa is banned with immediate effect,” Botswana’s Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security said in a statement.
Botswana has halted poultry imports from South Africa before, after a 2017 outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N8 bird flu.
Animal health authorities are urging the public to be vigilant and report any deaths of domestic poultry or wild birds to veterinary offices.
