South Africa’s worst bird flu outbreak is now under control and egg supplies are improving, the department of agriculture said on Wednesday.

The country has been battling an outbreak of a high-pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), a bird flu which spreads rapidly in an infected flock causing a high death rate, since April.

According to the South African Poultry Association, bout six million egg layers and 2.5 million breeder chickens, nearly a third of the national flock, have been culled due to the bird flu.

This has led to a shortage of eggs and fears of poultry meat shortages heading into the festive season.