Astral Foods
Astral Foods 
SOUTH AFRICA, Centurion. South African poultry producer Astral Foods confirmed a second outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N8 bird flu at one of its farms. The outbreak was detected at its Standerton breeding farm in South Africa's Mpumalanga province after avian flu was previously detected on its Villiers farm.
Neighbouring countries including Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana prompted this with a ban of poultry imports from South Africa.
The poultry producer said the first outbreak cost the company around $2 mill. but could not yet give the financial impact of the latest outbreak.
In July South Africa's agricultural department confirmed four outbreaks of bird flu, placing the farms under quarantine and stopping the movement of chickens and chicken products onto and off the farms in an effort to prevent it spreading.
The H5N8 strain has been detected in several countries in Europe, Africa and Asia over the past two years, with its spread aided by wild bird migrations. Highly pathogenic among fowl, it poses little risk to human health.
Source: Astral Foods