Bird flu prompts Namibia to ban SA chicken imports

Namibia has suspended imports of live poultry and poultry products from neighbouring 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.

More than two million chickens have reportedly died so far in the outbreak.

The Namibian authorities specified that the suspension covered:

*Live poultry

*"Fresh frozen" poultry meat

*Table eggs

*Day old chicks and hatching eggs.