The Department of Agriculture said in a statement that the ostrich farm has been placed under quarantine following the precautionary culling of ostriches.

The departmental spokesman Steve Galane said trading partners such as the European Union had been notified of the outbreak and talks were continuing to reassure them that outbreak was contained.

According to the department, swift reaction by private veterinarians and laboratories ensured the outbreak was rapidly reported to the government.

The viral outbreak was not related to the deadly H5N1 strain that has caused massive bird -- especially chicken -- culling and even human fatalities, in the Far East, Europe and Northern Africa.

In a statement, the department said tests done over the weekend at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute confirmed the H5N2 strain detected near Mossel Bay was similar to the one that South Africa "successfully" eradicated in May 2004.