S.Africa bans import of poultry meat from China

The South African Department of Agriculture says it has placed a moratorium on the import of all poultry meat from China.

A statement said the Department was currently investigating the outbreak of the influenza epidemic -- known as bird flu -- in Hong Kong, and that the measure was intended to prevent the same situation from occurring in South Africa.

In Hong Kong itself, where thirteen people have so far contracted the virus and four have died -- the mass slaughter of chicken has been continuing for a third day, to prevent the spread of the disease.

The authorities have also extended a ban on live chicken imports from mainland China for another three to four weeks.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service