Singapore suspended imports of all poultry meat and birds from South Africa on Saturday after receiving reports of Avian Influenza outbreak in Eastern Cape Province. "To prevent the disease from entering Singapore, the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority is taking precautionary measures to temporarily suspend" the imports with immediate effect, the AVA said in a statement. The city-state imported 3.08 tonnes of frozen ostrich meat from South Africa last year valued at 36,872 Singapore dollars (21,562 U.S.). Another 3,451 ornamental birds were imported from January to July this year. These birds were not affected by the disease, the AVA said. Bird flu devastated poultry farms throughout Asia earlier this year. The virus resurfaced in recent weeks in poultry farms across Thailand, Vietnam, China and Indonesia.
