Namibia Suspends Poultry Imports from South Africa Amid Bird Flu Outbreak

Namibia has suspended imports of live poultry, birds, and poultry products from South Africa due to the alarming increase in cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the neighboring country. South Africa, one of the major poultry producers in Africa, reported the first bird flu cases in commercial farms in April. Namibia, which relied on South Africa as its preferred supplier of chicken, will suspend importation and in-transit movement of poultry from South Africa until further notice. The virus, although not typically infecting humans, has raised concerns as the H5N1 strain is increasingly infecting mammals worldwide. This year, South Africa has experienced the highest number of avian flu cases since the first outbreaks were reported in 2017.