The Philippines' Department of Agriculture on January 21 said that it has banned imports of poultry and related products from China after the country confirmed an outbreak of the H5N2 strain of bird flu in the northern province of Hebei, China.
The Philippines' Department of Agriculture on January 21 said that ithas banned imports of poultry and related products from China afterthe country confirmed an outbreak of the H5N2 strain of bird flu in thenorthern province of Hebei, China.
The embargo,issued by Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, covers all domestic andwild birds as well as eggs and even semen from poultry originating inChina.
The agriculture ministry decided to enforce atemporary ban after receiving an official report from the ChinaAnimal Disease Control Center, Veterinary Bureau in December,2013.
The report confirmed an outbreak of the H5N2 strainof Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza(HPAI) virus in poultry in threevillages in Hebei, China.
More than 100,000 birds were culled in the area as a precautionary measure, according to the local reports.
According to figures from China’s National Health and Family PlanningCommission, in 2013 China had 144 cases, including 46 deaths, fromthe H7N9-strain of avian influenza. So far this year there have been atleast six bird flu deaths in mainland China.-VNA
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