South Africa discovers bird flu strain in birds
July 4th, 2006
A farm in the West of South Africa was discovered to have ostrich infected with a benign form of the bird flu virus. A similar outbreak in 2004 forced the authorities to order the culling of around 15,000 ostriches. The European Union blocked ostrich imports from the region until late last year, when it was declared the H5N2 avian flu virus - only dangerous for animals - was completely removed from the area. The Department of Agriculture says it hopes this occurrence will be contained rapidly and will not lead to other measures being taken by its trade partners, to whom it is carrying out negotiations at the moment. The department issued a press release saying South African ostrich and poultry is still safe for consumption.