Mozambique Bans Poultry Import From South Africa After Bird Flu Outbreak

Authorities in Mozambique have banned the import of poultry products from South Africa because of an outbreak of bird flu.

As well as live birds, the ban also includes feathers, eggs and poultry products used in agricultural animal feed.

It does not cover processed chicken, which is a way of preserving meat through heat treatment.

It is feared the ban will increase the price of poultry products in Mozambique, which heavily relies on South African imports.

On Tuesday, South Africa’s veterinary authorities said avian influenza had broken out in the province of Gauteng, causing the death of about 300 birds at a farm in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg.

Samples from the farm tested positive for the H5 strain and all birds there have since been destroyed.

The same farm was also affected by the 2017 outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N8 strain.

This forced farmers to slaughter millions of birds and led neighbouring countries, including Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana, to ban the import of poultry from South Africa.