The Botswana government has, with immediate effect, banned the import of all poultry products from Zimbabwe following an outbreak of avian flu.
The government said in a statement on its Facebook page that all import permits – for the import of domestic and wild birds, eggs, feathers, meat and poultry feed – had been cancelled and had to be returned to the nearest veterinary office.
One of Zimbabwe's biggest poultry producers, Irvine's Private Limited, said in a statement on Tuesday that it had been forced to cull 140 000 birds following an outbreak of avian influenza at its premises.
Another 7 000 birds were killed by the virus and the government has now quarantined the affected site, located just outside Harare, to prevent the spread of the virus.
"Irvine's, together with the Zimbabwe Veterinary Department, have responded by placing the affected site under quarantine and the entire flock that was affected has been culled and disposed of in accordance with the relevant veterinary regulations," the company said.
