Lesotho bans poultry imports

AGRICULTURE Minister Thabo Mofosi has temporarily banned imports of all poultry and poultry products from South Africa due to a bird flu outbreak. The highly infectious bird flu has struck several provinces in South Africa, affecting major chicken farms. There are reports that South Africa has culled 7.5 million birds, between 20 and 30 percent of its production chicken stock. Mofosi issued a directive revoking all import permits for poultry and poultry products with immediate effect.