More than 45,000 hens have been slaughtered, burnt and buried in southern Mozambique. According to officials, the action was is aimed at preventing the spread of bird flu. The birds had been imported from neighbouring South Africa, which has been hit by an outbreak of the disease.
The outbreak has now spread to Mozambique's district of Morrumbene in the southern Inhambane province. Whiles authorities try to contain the disease, there are fears that it could spread to other parts of the country. Bird flu is an infectious disease of poultry and wild birds.
It can spread through entire flocks of domestic birds within a matter of days, through bird droppings and saliva, or through contaminated feed and water. In Mozambique, the outbreak has led to a shortage of eggs and chickens, and a sharp rise in prices in recent days especially in the capital Maputo.
The average price of chicken has nearly doubled from 350 Mozambican metical ($5; £4) to 600, while the price of a dozen eggs has shot up from 100 to 150 metical.
The 45,000 incinerated hens had been in contact with chickens infected by bird flu in South Africa, said Mozambique's National Director of Livestock Development Américo da Conceição.
More than 45,000 hens have been slaughtered, burnt and buried in southern Mozambique. According to officials, the action was is aimed at preventing the spread of bird flu.
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