singapore on saturday suspended all imports of poultry meat and birds from south Africa after receiving news of an outbreak of avian influenza in a province there.

"We have received reports that there is an outbreak of avian influenza in Eastern Cape Province, south Africa," the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said in a statement.

"To prevent the disease from entering singapore, AVA is taking precautionary measures to temporarily suspend the imports of all poultry meat and birds from south Africa with immediate effect. singapore is free from bird flu."

south African officials Thursday said security forces have set up checkpoints around two ostrich farms to prevent the spread of bird flu after tests confirmed an outbreak of the disease.

singapore imported 3.08 tonnes of frozen ostrich meat from south Africa in 2003, but there is no import of chicken, duck, goose or turkey.

The city-state also imported 3,451 ornamental birds from January to July 2004 from south Africa, AVA said, adding "these birds were not affected by avian influenza."