South African supermarkets are imposing egg rationing measures as the country faces a shortage of poultry products due to a severe avian flu outbreak.

According to local reports, some supermarkets are restricting customers to purchasing a maximum of six eggs.

Woolworths, a major retail chain, confirmed that they have "implemented a limit on whole egg purchases in our stores to six eggs per customer," as reported by local media outlet News24.

Another chain, Pick n Pay, has reportedly urged customers to "shop responsibly" and will restrict purchases to one or two egg packs per customer.

Producers have been issuing warnings about the scarcity of eggs and poultry meat caused by the outbreak and the impact of power shortages on the industry.

The agriculture ministry reported last week that more than 2.5 million chickens had been culled, with five out of eight provinces affected by the outbreak.