South
Africa said on Tuesday that around 300 birds died of avian flu at the
commercial chicken-layer farm in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, with samples
from the farm testing positive for the H5 strain.
"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.
After an
outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N8 strain of avian flu in 2017, which saw
poultry farmers culling millions of birds, neighbouring countries including
Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana banned poultry imports from South Africa.
Botswana authorities warned the public to be vigilant and to
report any deaths of domestic poultry and wild birds to veterinary offices.