Namibia Suspends Poultry Imports from Germany & Netherlands Due to Growing Cases of Bird Flu

On Monday, November 1, 2021 following an outbreak of highly virulent avian influenza, Namibia banned imports and in-transit movement of live poultry and poultry products from Germany and the Netherlands. 

Live poultry, birds, raw/uncooked goods, ostriches, and raw ostrich products from the two areas have been suspended, according to the Directorate of Veterinary Services. 

Only consignments containing items packaged before October 1 will be accepted, according to the company, while those packaged after that date would be refused and returned back to their country of origin or destroyed at the importer's expense. 

The directorate said that cooked chicken products for commercial reasons from the two territories may be imported into Namibia with a veterinary import license. This is a step taken by the African nation’s government keeping in mind the previous outbreaks of flu in the country which had led to widespread slaughtering of livestock in the country.

In 2021 Namibia had also banned imports of poultry from east of Johannesburg in may due to fear of bird flu. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Avian influenza refers to the disease caused by infection with avian (bird) influenza (flu) Type A viruses. Although this may not be an anthroprozoonotic disease evidence of sporadic infections has shown that they have changed in recent years. These viruses occur naturally among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species. Avian flu viruses do not normally infect humans.  

After an outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N8 strain of avian flu in 2017, which saw poultry farmers culling millions of birds, The Namibian government has taken a very serious stance on matters pertaining to avian influenza or bird flu. 

Germany and Netherlands are yet to comment on the sudden ban of their exports.