IRATE South Africans are protesting the European Union (EU) ban on their ostrich meat and live birds following an outbreak of Congo fever. The EU ban came into effect after an abattoir worker died recently and 16 others were infected with the fever in Oudtshoorn, a town close to South Africa's ostrich industry.

What has left the South Africans fuming is the fact that while the disease has been detected in one area, the Eu ban would apply to the whole c6untry and could put a question mark on ostrich meat exports. The country supplies 80 per cent of the global demand for ostrich meat. EU officials state that the ban is temporary and will continue until the cause of the disease is investigated.

The Congo fever, transmitted by ticks, causes severe internal bleeding and is fatal in a third of the cases. Health officials state that this is the first time that ostriches have been considered as carriers of ticks, thereby transmitting the disease to humans through ostrich meat.