HARARE, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe has banned poultry products from South Africa after an outbreak of avian influenza in the country.
Department of veterinary services director Josphat Nyika was quoted by the state-run Herald newspaper on Tuesday as saying that the ban will remain in force until South Africa clears the highly pathogenic virus.
"The products (banned) include hatching eggs, table eggs, frozen chicken and mechanically de-boned meat," Nyika said.
Zimbabwe reported an outbreak of avian influenza early this month when one of the country's biggest poultry producers, Irvine's Private Limited, culled 140,000 birds following the outbreak at its premises which killed 7,000 others.
The government quarantined the affected site to prevent the spread of the virus.
Avian flu is a virus that occurs naturally among wild aquatic birds and affects domestic poultry and other birds and animals.
