REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, CAPE TOWN -- South Africa has detected 24 outbreaks of the H5N8 strain of bird flu since June, including 10 at commercial chicken farms and three at ostrich farms, Agriculture Minister Senzeni Zokwana said on Wednesday.

The virus is highly pathogenic in birds and has hit companies such as RCL Foods, which said last week that the cost of the outbreaks at its farms amounted to 50 million rand ($3.84 million).

"The virus can cause big losses in poultry and it is a priority to contain and eradicate the disease," said Agriculture Minister, Senzeni Zokwana.

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