South Africa says bird flu is under control and egg supply is growing

(Reuters) - South Africa's worst bird flu outbreak is now under control and egg supplies are improving, the Department of Agriculture said on Wednesday. Since April, the country has been battling an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, a bird flu that spreads rapidly in an infected flock, causing a high mortality rate. About six million layers and 2.5 million breeding hens, almost a third of the national flock, have been culled due to bird flu, according to the South African Poultry Association. This has led to a shortage of eggs and fears of a shortage of poultry meat during the festive season. In a statement, the agriculture department said the government has facilitated increased imports of eggs, fertile eggs, egg powder and liquid eggs to alleviate the shortage. “The department is pleased that the disease outbreak is under control and that 70% of farms that were not infected continue to produce eggs and chickens,” the department said, adding that “egg stock levels ...